Notifying device, notifying method, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a notification apparatus, a notification method, and a recording medium, which are capable of notifying to a user, such a fact that either trouble or an accident happens to occur at a registered point when a target point of a vehicle is made coincident with the registered point which has been previously registered.  
     The notification apparatus of the present invention is arranged by comprising: an acquisition unit ( 1 ) for acquiring target point information A indicative of a target point to which an emergency vehicle is directed; a storage unit ( 2 ) for storing therein registered point information B indicative of a registered point which has been previously registered by an owner of the notification apparatus; an identification unit ( 3 ) for identifying as to whether or not the target point information A acquired by the acquisition unit ( 1 ) is made coincident with the registered point information B stored in the storage unit ( 2 ); and a notification unit ( 4 ) for notifying an identification result obtained in the identification unit ( 3 ) to the owner of this communication apparatus.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention is related to a notification apparatus, anotification method, and a recording medium for recording thereon aprogram used to execute the notification method. More specifically, thepresent invention is related to a notification apparatus for judging asto whether or not a target point to which an emergency vehicle isdispatched is related to the own relevant point and then for notifying ajudgment result, and also is directed to a notification method and arecording medium.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Conventional techniques capable of utilizing positionalinformation of emergency vehicles have been described in thebelow-mentioned publications. First, Japanese Unexamined PatentPublication No. H06-259694 describes theemergency-vehicle-positional-information display apparatus having suchpurposes capable of confirming the positional information of theemergency vehicle and of realizing higher security. Also, JapaneseUnexamined Patent Publication No. H11-014388 describes the emergencyvehicle notification system having such purposes that both the presentposition and the target position of the emergency vehicle arenotified/acquired so as to predict the scheduled traveling route of theemergency vehicle, and traveling of the emergency vehicle is effectivelysupported. Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H11-328563describes the notification destination retrieving apparatus and theretrieving method thereof having such purposes that in the emergencycenter and the like of the vehicle emergency notification system, theemergency notification destination such as the relevant fire station isretrieved based upon the position of the accidental vehicle, and whenthe accident happens to occur, quick rescue can be carried out.

[0003] Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H11-250383describes both the member management method and the informationacquisition/provision system. That is, in such a system for providingthe service by which the emergency vehicle is delivered from the centerwhen the accident happens to occur, the contract time limits of themembers may be managed and also various sorts of information may begiven to the members via the vehicle apparatus and the wireless linesunder such an initial condition that the membership fees are required.Furthermore, in order to request quick rescue, other systems are known.That is, emergency vehicles are delivered from centers by initiatingterminal apparatus which are exclusively used and are operated by users.Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. S63-164751 and JapaneseUnexamined Patent Publication No. H07-015541 describe such apparatus andmethods, capable of notifying emergency information to persons such asfamilies and acquaintances, and centers, and also capable of notifyingthe emergency information from these persons and the centers to thenotification destinations such as fire stations.

[0004] However, the above-described conventional systems own thebelow-mentioned problems, and therefore these problems should bedesirably solved. For instance, when persons hear a siren of anemergency vehicle, there are many possibilities that these persons areworried about such a case that trouble/accident happen to occur at theirhomes, schools and offices where their families are living. Normally, insuch a case that trouble/accident happen to occur as to the ownfamilies, any persons apparently want to immediately receive thisnotification, and furthermore, want to go to places of their families asquickly as possible. However, while there is a very small possibilitythat these trouble/accident happen to occur at their families, it ispractically difficult to provide to users, such a service capable ofnotifying only such possibilities that fire/accident problem occur as totheir families.

[0005] Also, in the conventional notification apparatus for detectingthe emergency event so as to notify the detected emergency event to thefamilies and acquaintances, there are some cases that dispatching of theemergency vehicle cannot be requested, depending upon the occurrencemodes of the emergency events.

[0006] There is another problem in the conventional notificationapparatus, although traveling of the emergency vehicles can be moreeffectively supported, and also, when the accidents happen to occur,quick rescue can be carried out. However, the conventional notificationapparatus cannot confirm the conditions under which trouble/accidenthappen to occur at the own home and the own families. Furthermore, theusers cannot employ the conventional notification apparatus in order toconfirm as to whether or not an accident actually happens to occur at adesirable point.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-describedconventional problems, and therefore, has an object to provide anotification apparatus, a notification method, and a recording medium,which are capable of notifying such a fact that either trouble or anaccident happens to occur at a previously registered point in a casethat a target point of a vehicle is made coincident with this previouslyregistered point.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The above-described problems could be solved by a notificationapparatus, a notification method, and a recording medium, according tothe present invention, which are described as follows:

[0009] (1) A notification apparatus of the present invention includes:acquisition means for acquiring target point information capable ofspecifying a target point to which a vehicle is directed; storage meansfor previously storing thereinto registered point information capable ofspecifying a desirable point; identification means for identifying thetarget point information acquired by the acquisition means with theregistered point information stored in the storage means to judge as towhether or not the target point information is made coincident with theregistered point information; and notification means for notifying anidentification result obtained by the identification means.

[0010] (2) In the notification apparatus as recited in the precedingitem (1), the notification means notifies the identification result whenthe target point information is made coincident with the registeredpoint information.

[0011] (3) In the notification apparatus as recited in the precedingitem (1) or (2), the notification means notifies the registered pointinformation which is made coincident with the target point informationin connection with the identification result.

[0012] (4) In the notification apparatus as recited in the precedingitem (1), (2) or (3), the notification apparatus is comprised ofcharging means for charging a fee to a predetermined chargingdestination when the target point information is made coincident withthe registered point information.

[0013] (5) In the notification apparatus as recited in the precedingitem (1), (2), (3) or (4), the notification apparatus further includes:a conversion means for converting either a sort of the target pointinformation or a sort of the registered point information when sorts ofthe target point information and of the registered point information,which are identified with each other by the identification means, aredifferent from each other.

[0014] (6) In the notification apparatus recited in the preceding item(5), when at least one of either of the target point information or theregistered point information corresponds to positional informationindicative of a predetermined point, the conversion means converts thepositional information into address information by employing acorrespondence relationship between the positional informationindicative of the predetermined point and address information indicativeof an address of the predetermined point.

[0015] (7) In the notification apparatus as recited in the precedingitems (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), or (6), the identification means judgesas to whether or not a target point indicated by the target pointinformation which is acquired by the acquisition means is located withina predetermined range where a registered point is located at a centerthereof and the registered point is indicated by the registered pointinformation which is stored in the storage means.

[0016] (8) In the notification apparatus recited in the preceding item(7), the notification means performs notifying operations in differentnotification systems when the target point information is madecoincident with the registered point information, and also when thetarget point is located within the predetermined range of the registeredpoint.

[0017] (9) In the notification apparatus as recited in the precedingitems (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), or (6), the identification means producesa map forming instruction, containing at least one of either positionalinformation or address information, based upon a result of identifyingthe target point information acquired by the acquisition means, with theregistered point information stored in the storage means; the storagemeans includes a map information storage means for storing thereinto mapinformation used to display a map; the notification apparatus includes:map forming means for deriving from the map information storage means,map information of an area containing all of positions which areindicated by either the positional information or the addressinformation, which are contained in the map forming instruction producedby the identification means, and for forming such a map information thatthe positions indicated by either the positional information or theaddress information are represented as signs; and the notification meansdisplays the map information which is formed by the map forming means.

[0018] (10) In the notification apparatus recited in the preceding item(9), the identification means produces the map forming instruction,while registered point information which is made coincident with thetarget point information is used as the positional information; and in acase that there is no registered point information which is madecoincident with the target point information, the identification meansproduces the map forming instruction while both the target pointinformation and the registered point information registered in thestorage means are used as the positional information.

[0019] (11) In the notification apparatus as recited in the precedingitem (9) or (10), in such a case that address information contained inthe map forming instruction produced by the identification means iscoarser than address information contained in the map information, themap forming means derives map information of such address informationwhich is partially made coincident with the address information of themap forming instruction.

[0020] (12) In the notification apparatus as recited in the precedingitems (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), or (11), theacquisition means acquires second target point information capable ofspecifying a second target point subsequent to the target pointinformation capable of specifying the target point to which the vehicleis directed; and the notification means notifies the second target pointinformation when the target point information is made coincident withthe registered point information stored in the storage means as a resultof the identifying operation by the identification means.

[0021] (13) In the notification apparatus as recited in the precedingitems (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), or (12),the notification apparatus further includes: present position detectingmeans for detecting a present position of the notification apparatus;and a route searching means for searching a route defined from thepresent position detected by the present position detecting means up toeither the target point or the second target point; and wherein: thenotification means notifies the route searched by the route searchingmeans.

[0022] (14) In the notification apparatus as recited in the precedingitems (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), or(13), the storage means stores thereinto notification destinationinformation indicative of a notification destination to which thenotification means notifies the identification result in correspondencewith the registered point information; and the notification meansnotifies the identification result to the notification destination whichis indicated by the notification destination information, whichcorresponds to either the registered point information which is madecoincident with the target point information by the identification meansor the registered point information in which a target point indicated bythe target point information is located in a predetermined range forsetting the registered point as a center.

[0023] (15) In the notification apparatus as recited in the precedingitems (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), or (14), thestorage means stores thereinto charging destination informationindicative of a charging destination to which the charging means chargesthe fee in correspondence with the registered point information; and thecharging means charges the fee to the charging destination which isindicated by the charging destination information, which corresponds toeither the registered point information which is made coincident withthe target point information by the identification means or theregistered point information in which a target point indicated by thetarget point information is located in a predetermined range for settingthe registered point as a center.

[0024] (16) In the notification apparatus as recited in the precedingitem (14) or (15), the notification apparatus includes: registrationmeans for referring the registered point information, the notificationdestination information, or the charging destination information; fordeleting the registered point information, the notification destinationinformation, or the charging destination information from the recordingmeans; and for adding the registered point information, the notificationdestination information, or the charging destination information to therecording means.

[0025] (17) In the notification apparatus as recited in the precedingitems (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (12), (13), (14), (15), or (16), thestorage means stores thereinto identification degree information whichdetermines a range of an identifying operation when the target pointinformation is identified with the registered point information; theidentification means identifies the target point information with theregistered point information based upon the identification degreeinformation; and the notification means notifies the identificationresult in different notification systems in response to theidentification degree information.

[0026] (18) A notification method of the present invention is anotification method using a notification apparatus equipped with astorage means for previously storing thereinto registered pointinformation capable of specifying a desirable point, the notificationmethod includes: an acquisition step for acquiring target pointinformation capable of specifying a target point to which a vehicle isdirected; an identification step for identifying the target pointinformation acquired by the acquisition step with the registered pointinformation stored in the storage means to judge as to whether or notthe target point information is made coincident with the registeredpoint information; and a notification step for notifying anidentification result obtained by the identification step.

[0027] (19) In the notification method recited in the preceding item(18), the notification step notifies the identification result when thetarget point information is made coincident with the registered pointinformation.

[0028] (20) In the notification method recited in the preceding item(18), or (19), the notification step notifies the registered pointinformation which is made coincident with the target point informationin connection with the identification result.

[0029] (21) In the notification method recited in the preceding item(18), (19), or (20), the notification method includes a charging stepfor charging a fee to a predetermined charging destination when thetarget point information is made coincident with the registered pointinformation.

[0030] (22) In the notification method recited in the preceding item(18), (19), (20), or (21), the notification method includes: aconversion step for converting either a sort of the target pointinformation or a sort of the registered point information when sorts ofthe target point information and of the registered point information,which are identified with each other by the identification step, aredifferent from each other.

[0031] (23) In the notification method recited in the preceding item(22), when at least one of the target point information and theregistered point information corresponds to positional informationindicative of a predetermined point, the conversion step converts thepositional information into address information by employing acorrespondence relationship between the positional informationindicative of the predetermined point and address information indicativeof an address of the predetermined point.

[0032] (24) In the notification method recited in the preceding item(18), (19), (20), (21), (22), or (23), the identification step judges asto whether or not a target point indicated by the target pointinformation which is acquired by the acquisition step is located withina predetermined range where a registered point is located at a centerthereof and the registered point is indicated by the registered pointinformation which is stored in the storage means.

[0033] (25) In the notification method recited in the preceding item(24), the notification step performs notifying operations in differentnotification systems when the target point information is madecoincident with the registered point information, and also when thetarget point is located within the predetermined range of the registeredpoint.

[0034] (26) In the notification method recited in the preceding item(18), (19), (20), (21), (22), or (23), the storage means includes a mapinformation storage means for storing map information used to display amap; the identification step includes a map forming instructionproducing step which produces a map forming instruction containing atleast one of positional information and address information based upon aresult of identifying the target point information acquired by theacquisition step with the registered point information stored in thestorage means; the notification method includes: a map forming step forderiving from the map information storage means, map information of anarea containing all of positions which are indicated by either thepositional information or the address information, which are containedin the map forming instruction produced by the map forming instructionproducing step, and for forming such a map information that thepositions indicated by either the positional information or the addressinformation are represented as signs; and the notification step displaysthe map information which is formed by the map forming step.

[0035] (27) In the notification method recited in the preceding item(26), the map forming instruction producing step produces the mapforming instruction, while registered point information which is madecoincident with the target point information is used as the positionalinformation; and in a case that there is no registered point informationwhich is made coincident with the target point information, the mapforming instruction producing step produces the map forming instructionwhile both the target point information and the registered pointinformation registered in the storage means are used as the positionalinformation.

[0036] (28) In the notification method recited in the preceding item(26), or (27), in such a case that address information contained in themap forming instruction produced by the map forming instructionproducing step is coarser than address information contained in the mapinformation, the map forming step derives map information of suchaddress information which is partially made coincident with the addressinformation of the map forming instruction.

[0037] (29) In the notification method recited in the preceding item(18), (19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26), (27), or (28), thenotification method includes a second acquisition step for acquiringsecond target point information capable of specifying a second targetpoint, subsequent to the acquisition step; and the notification stepnotifies the second target point information when the target pointinformation is made coincident with the registered point informationstored in the storage means as a result of the identifying operation bythe identification step.

[0038] (30) In the notification method recited in the preceding item(18), (19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26), (27), (28), or(29), the notification method includes: a present position detectingstep for detecting a present position of the notification apparatus; anda route searching step for searching a route defined from the presentposition detected by the present position detecting step up to eitherthe target point or the second target point; and wherein: thenotification step notifies the route searched by the route searchingstep.

[0039] (31) In the notification method recited in the preceding item(18), (19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26), (27), (28), (29),or (30), the storage means stores thereinto notification destinationinformation indicative of a notification destination to which thenotification step notifies the identification result in correspondencewith the registered point information; and the notification stepnotifies the identification result to the notification destination whichis indicated by the notification destination information, whichcorresponds to either the registered point information which is madecoincident with the target point information by the identification stepor the registered point information in which a target point indicated bythe target point information is located in a predetermined range forsetting the registered point as a center.

[0040] (32) In the notification method recited in the preceding item(21), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26), (27), (28), (29), (30), or (31), thestorage means stores thereinto charging destination informationindicative of a charging destination to which the charging step chargesa fee in correspondence with the registered point information; and thecharging step charges the fee to the charging destination which isindicated by the charging destination information, which corresponds toeither the registered point information which is made coincident withthe target point information by the identification step or theregistered point information in which a target point indicated by thetarget point information is located in a predetermined range for settingthe registered point as a center.

[0041] (33) In the notification method recited in the preceding item(18), (19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (29), (30), (31), or (32), thestorage means stores thereinto identification degree information whichdetermines a range of an identifying operation when the target pointinformation is identified with the registered point information; theidentification step identifies the target point information with theregistered point information based upon the identification degreeinformation; and the notification step notifies the identificationresult in different notification systems in response to theidentification degree information.

[0042] (34) A computer readable recording medium of the presentinvention is featured by that a program for causing a computer toexecute the notification method recited in the preceding item (18),(19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26), (27), (28), (29), (30),(31), (32), or (33) is recorded thereon.

[0043] In the notification apparatus according to the preceding item (1)of the present invention, the notification method according to thepreceding item (18), and the recording medium according to the precedingitem (34), the storage unit previously stores thereinto the registeredpoint information capable of specifying the desirable point; theacquisition means (acquisition step) acquires the target pointinformation capable of specifying the target point to which the vehicleis directed; the identification means (identification step) identifiesthe acquired target point information with the registered pointinformation stored in the storage means to judge as to whether or notthe target point information is made coincident with the registeredpoint information; and notification means (notification step) notifiesthe identification result obtained by the identification means(identification step).

[0044] In the notification apparatus according to the preceding item (2)of the present invention, the notification method according to thepreceding item (19), and the recording medium according to the precedingitem (34), the notification means (notification step) notifies theidentification result when the target point information is madecoincident with the registered point information. Also, in thenotification apparatus according to the preceding item (3) of thepresent invention, the notification method according to the precedingitem (20), and the recording medium according to the preceding item(34), the notification means (notification step) notifies the registeredpoint information which is made coincident with the target pointinformation in connection with the identification result.

[0045] As a consequence, the user (owner of the notification apparatus)can quickly know such a fact that an emergency event happens to occur athis families and his acquaintances. Also, in the notification apparatusaccording to the preceding item (4) of the present invention, thenotification method according to the preceding item (21), and therecording medium according to the preceding item (34), the chargingmeans (charging step) charges the fee to a predetermined chargingdestination when the target point information is made coincident withthe registered point information. As a consequence, as a fee system ofan emergency event notification service, since such a fee system can beavailable by which a service fee is required only when notification iscarried out in addition to another fee system for regularly collecting amember fee, a service provider can provide various services by way offlexible fee systems.

[0046] Also, in the notification apparatus according to the precedingitem (5) of the present invention, the notification method according tothe preceding item (22), and the recording medium according to thepreceding item (34), even when the sort of the target point informationis different from the sort of the registered point information, whichare identified with each other, the identification means (identificationstep) can identify these target/registered point information with eachother.

[0047] Also, in the notification apparatus according to the precedingitem (6) of the present invention, the notification method according tothe preceding item (23), and the recording medium according to thepreceding item (34), when at least one of the target point informationand the registered point information corresponds to the positionalinformation indicative of a predetermined point, the conversion means(conversion step) converts the positional information into the addressinformation by employing the correspondence relationship between thepositional information indicative of the predetermined point and theaddress information indicative of the address of the predeterminedpoint. As a result, the identification means (identification step) canidentify the target point information with the registered pointinformation by absorbing the error which is caused by the precision ofthe positional information.

[0048] Also, in the notification apparatus according to the precedingitem (7) of the present invention, the notification method according tothe preceding item (24), and the recording medium according to thepreceding item (34), the identification means (identification step)judges as to whether or not the target point indicated by the acquiredtarget point information is located within a predetermined range wherethe registered point is located at the center thereof and the registeredpoint is indicated by the registered point information which is storedin the storage means. In particular, in the notification apparatusaccording to the preceding item (8) of the present invention, thenotification method according to the preceding item (25), and therecording medium according to the preceding item (34), the notificationmeans (notification step) performs notifying operations in differentnotification systems when the target point information is madecoincident with the registered point information, and also when thetarget point is located within the predetermined range of the registeredpoint.

[0049] As a consequence, even when the target point of the vehicle isnot made completely coincident with the registered point, if the targetpoint is located near the registered point, namely within apredetermined range, then the notification may be made for the sake ofconfirmation even under such a condition that the content of the targetpoint information is not so precise rather than that of the registeredpoint information, and only approximate places are known.

[0050] Also, in the notification apparatus according to the precedingitem (9) of the present invention, the notification method according tothe preceding item (26), and the recording medium according to thepreceding item (34), and furthermore, in the notification apparatusaccording to the preceding item (10) of the present invention, thenotification method according to the preceding item (27), and therecording medium according to the preceding item (34), since thenotification means (notification step) for displaying the mapinformation indicates the positions represented by both the target pointinformation and the registered point information on the map as thesigns, the notification means (notification step) can notify theposition indicated by the coincident registered point information, orthe position indicated by the target point information, and the positionindicated by the registered point information in thevisible/easy-understandable manner.

[0051] Also, in the notification apparatus according to the precedingitem (11) of the present invention, the notification method according tothe preceding item (28), and the recording medium according to thepreceding item (34), in such a case that the address informationcontained in the map forming instruction produced by the identificationmeans (identification step) is coarser than the address informationcontained in the map information, the map forming means (map formingstep) derives map information of such address information which ispartially made coincident with the address information of the mapforming instruction. As a consequence, the map information isrepresented, while the target point information is indicated by a shapefor indicating a wide range, and the registered point information isindicated by a shape of indicating a narrow range, namely by anapproximate point shape, so that visible/easy-understandablenotification can be carried out.

[0052] Also, in the notification apparatus according to the precedingitem (12) of the present invention, the notification method according tothe preceding item (29), and the recording medium according to thepreceding item (34), the acquisition means (second acquisition step)acquires the second target point information capable of specifying thesecond target point to which the vehicle is directed; and thenotification means (notification step) notifies the second target pointinformation when the target point information is made coincident withthe registered point information stored in the storage means as a resultof the identifying operation by the identification means (identificationstep).

[0053] As a result, the user can quickly go to the present places of hisfamilies and his acquaintances, who are injured.

[0054] Also, in the notification apparatus according to the precedingitem (13) of the present invention, the notification method according tothe preceding item (30), and the recording medium according to thepreceding item (34), the present position detecting means (presentposition detecting step) detects the present position of thenotification apparatus; and the route searching means (route searchingstep) searches the route defined from the present position detected bythe present position detecting means (present position detecting step)up to either the target point or the second target point; and also thenotification means (notification step) notifies the route searched bythe route searching means (route searching step). As a consequence,since the user (owner of notification apparatus) can grasp, for example,an accident occurring point (target point), and a route defined up to ahospital (second target point) where an injured person is medicallytreated, the user can rush to the place of interest.

[0055] Also, in the notification apparatus according to the precedingitem (14) of the present invention, the notification method according tothe preceding item (31), and the recording medium according to thepreceding item (34), the storage means stores thereinto the notificationdestination information indicative of the notification destination incorrespondence with the registered point information; and thenotification means (notification step) notifies the identificationresult to the notification destination which is indicated by thenotification destination information, which corresponds to either theregistered point information which is made coincident with the targetpoint information or the registered point information in which thetarget point indicated by the target point information is located in apredetermined range for setting the registered point as the center. As aconsequence, if the communication destinations as to all of the familiesand also the communication destinations of persons which are wanted tobe contacted to the families are registered into the notificationdestination information C, even when the notification apparatus is notowned, such a notification that the own home and the own family face tosuch a risky opportunity that the emergency vehicle is dispatched can beissued, and also notification can be made without any mistakes whentrouble/accident happen to occur.

[0056] Also, in the notification apparatus according to the precedingitem (15) of the present invention, the notification method according tothe preceding item (32), and the recording medium according to thepreceding item (34), the storage means stores thereinto the chargingdestination information indicative of the charging destination incorrespondence with the registered point information; and the chargingmeans (charging step) charges the fee to the charging destination whichis indicated by the charging destination information, which correspondsto either the coincident registered point information or the registeredpoint information in which the target point indicated by the targetpoint information is located in a predetermined range for setting theregistered point as the center. As a result, since the charging means(charging step) can charge the fee only to such a charging destinationwhich is indicated by the charging destination information correspondingto the registered point information which is made coincident with thetarget point information, a service provider can provide a service witha flexible fee system as an emergency-event-notifying-service feesystem.

[0057] Also, in the notification apparatus according to the precedingitem (16) of the present invention, the registration means refers theregistered point information, the notification destination information,or the charging destination information; deletes the registered pointinformation, the notification destination information, or the chargingdestination information from the recording unit; and adds the registeredpoint information, the notification destination information, or thecharging destination information to the recording means. As aconsequence, the combination among the registered point information, thenotification destination information, and the charging destinationinformation, which are used in the identifying operation, the notifyingoperation, and the charging operation, can be changed at any time byemploying the registration means.

[0058] Also, in the notification apparatus according to the precedingitem (17) of the present invention, the notification method according tothe preceding item (33), and the recording medium according to thepreceding item (34), the storage means stores thereinto theidentification degree information which determines the range of theidentifying operation when the target point information is identifiedwith the registered point information; the identification means(identification step) identifies the target point information with theregistered point information based upon the identification degreeinformation; and the notification means (notification step) notifies theidentification result in the different notification systems in responseto the identification degree information. As a consequence, since theidentification means can determine that which portions of both thetarget point information and the registered point information are madevalid based upon the identification degree information, theidentification means (identification step) can perform the identifyingoperations under plural conditions in response to individual requestsset from the users, and thus can perform the identifying operations inmore flexible manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059]FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for indicating such a manner thathow a notification apparatus according to the present invention is used.

[0060]FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for representing another mannerthat how the notification apparatus according to the present inventionis used.

[0061]FIG. 3 is a structural block diagram for indicating a notificationapparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0062]FIG. 4 is a flow chart for describing a notification method of afirst example, which is executed by the notification apparatus of thefirst embodiment.

[0063]FIG. 5 is a flowchart for describing a notification method of asecond example, which is executed by the notification apparatus of thefirst embodiment.

[0064]FIG. 6 is a structural block diagram for representing anotification apparatus according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0065]FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for indicating target pointinformation “A” and registered point information B₁ to B_(n).

[0066]FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining a notification methodexecuted by the notification apparatus of the second embodiment.

[0067]FIG. 9 is a flow chart for representing another notificationmethod executed by the notification apparatus of the second embodiment.

[0068]FIG. 10 is a structural block diagram for indicating anotification apparatus according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0069]FIG. 11 is a flow chart for explaining a notification methodexecuted by the notification apparatus of the third embodiment.

[0070]FIG. 12 is a flow chart for representing another notificationmethod executed by the notification apparatus of the third embodiment.

[0071]FIG. 13 is a structural block diagram for indicating anotification apparatus of a first example according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention.

[0072]FIG. 14 is a structural block diagram for showing a notificationapparatus of a second example according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0073]FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for indicating a structure of atable conversion unit 22 of the fourth embodiment.

[0074]FIG. 16 is a structural block diagram for showing a notificationapparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0075]FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram for indicating target pointinformation A and registered point information B.

[0076]FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram for indicating a classificationof map information “M.”

[0077]FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram for showing a structure of themap information “M.”

[0078]FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram for indicating a shape “S” whichis constituted by a positional information number IC and a positionalinformation group IG.

[0079]FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram for indicating a structure ofaddress map information MJ contained in the map information M.

[0080]FIG. 22 is a structural block diagram for indicating anotherarrangement of a notification apparatus according to the fifthembodiment of the present invention.

[0081]FIG. 23 is a flow chart for explaining a notification methodexecuted by a notification apparatus according to a sixth embodiment.

[0082]FIG. 24 is a structural block diagram for showing a notificationapparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0083]FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram for indicating a method forderiving the map information M from a map unit 23.

[0084]FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram for describing map informationM′ in such a case that registered point information B is made coincidentwith target point information and the identifying operation is complete.

[0085]FIG. 27 is a flow chart for explaining a notification methodexecuted by a notification apparatus according to the seventhembodiment.

[0086]FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram for describing map informationM′ in such a case that all of the registered point information B are notmade coincident with target point information and the identifyingoperation is complete.

[0087]FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram for showing such a mapinformation M′ in which the registered point information B is indicatedby dots.

[0088]FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram for indicating a structure of amap forming instruction MR in an eighth embodiment.

[0089]FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram for showing an image of such amap information M′ that an address shape JS is indicated on a map.

[0090]FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram for indicating a correspondencerelationship among conditions while identifying operation is carriedout, results of the identifying operation, structures of map forminginstructions, and map information.

[0091]FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram for showing an image of mapinformation M′ which is formed in a case (a) of FIG. 32.

[0092]FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram for showing an image of mapinformation M′ which is formed in a case (b) of FIG. 32.

[0093]FIG. 35 is a structural block diagram for representing anotification apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0094]FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram for showing identificationbetween acquired first target point information A1 and registered pointinformation B stored in a storage unit 2, and second target pointinformation A2.

[0095]FIG. 37 is a structural block diagram for representing anotification apparatus according to a tenth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0096]FIG. 38 is a structural block diagram for representing anotification apparatus according to an tenth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0097]FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram for showing acquired firsttarget point information A, and registered point information B stored inthe storage unit 2, and notification destination information C whichconstitutes a pair with respect to the registered point information B.

[0098]FIG. 40 is an explanatory diagram for indicating such a mannerthat how a notification apparatus is used.

[0099]FIG. 41 is a structural block diagram for indicating anotification apparatus according to a twelfth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0100]FIG. 42 is an explanatory diagram for showing the acquired targetpoint information A, the registered point information B stored in thestorage unit 2, the notification destination information C, and chargingdestination information D.

[0101]FIG. 43 is a structural block diagram for indicating anotification apparatus according to a thirteenth embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0102]FIG. 44 is an explanatory diagram for showing the acquired targetpoint information A, the registered point information B stored in thestorage unit 2, and identification degree information E.

[0103]FIG. 45 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method forrepresenting the identification degree information E.

[0104] It should be noted that in these drawings, reference numeral 1shows an acquisition unit; reference numeral 2 indicates a storage unit;reference numeral 3 represents an identification unit; reference numeral4 denotes a notification unit; reference numeral 5 is a charging unit;reference numeral 6 shows a registration unit; reference numeral 7indicates a conversion unit; reference numeral 8 represents a presentposition calculating unit; reference numeral 9 denotes a path searchingunit; reference numeral 10 indicates a map forming unit; referencenumeral 22 shows a table conversion unit; reference numeral 23represents a map unit; reference numerals 100, 100 a, and 100 b shownotification apparatus; and reference numerals 200 a and 200 b representstations.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0105] An embodiment of the present invention will now be explained withreference to drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are explanatory diagrams forexplaining a use method of a notification apparatus according to thepresent invention. A station 200 a which is mounted on an emergencyvehicle and is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is such a station fortransmitting information indicative of a target point to which theemergency vehicle is directed. Also, a plurality of stations 200 bindicated in FIG. 2 receive information transmitted from the station 200a, and transmit the information to undefined/large numbers of receptionterminals 100 a and 100 b which are located within an area 201 where thestation 200 b is located at a center thereof. It should be understoodthat the area 201 shows such a range where each of the station 200 a andthe station 200 b is capable of transmitting information. Also, the area201 of the station 200 b is made wider than an area of the station 200a.

[0106] Also, the notification apparatus 100 a and 100 b shown in FIG. 1and FIG. 2 receives information transmitted from the station 200 a andthe station 200 b. A notification apparatus 100 a mounted on a mobileterminal such as a portable telephone is explained as an example, and anotification apparatus 100 b mounted on a vehicle is explained as anexample. It should be noted that arrangements of these notificationapparatus 100 a and 100 b are similar to arrangements of thebelow-mentioned notification apparatus.

[0107] Various embodiments of notification apparatus and notificationmethod according to the present invention will now be described indetail with reference to drawings in this order of [first embodiment],[second embodiment], [third embodiment], [fourth embodiment], [fifthembodiment], [sixth embodiment], [seventh embodiment], [eighthembodiment], [ninth embodiment], [tenth embodiment], [eleventhembodiment], [twelfth embodiment], [thirteenth embodiment], and[fourteenth embodiment]. It should also be noted that while thenotification apparatus and the notification method according to thepresent invention will be explained in detail, since a recording mediumaccording to the present invention corresponds to such a recordingmedium for recording thereon a program used to execute the notificationmethod, the description thereof is involved in descriptions of thebelow-explained notification method.

[0108] [First Embodiment]

[0109]FIG. 3 is a structural block diagram for indicating a notificationapparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Asindicated in this drawing, the notification apparatus according to thefirst embodiment is arranged by an acquisition unit 1, a storage unit 2,an identification unit 3, and a notification unit 4. The acquisitionunit 1 corresponds to an acquisition means. The acquisition unit 1acquires such an information (will be referred to as “target pointinformation A” hereinafter) indicative of a target point to which anemergency vehicle is dispatched based upon an optical beacon, anelectromagnetic beacon, and the like, which are installed on the side ofa road. The storage unit 2 corresponds to a storage means. The storageunit 2 stores thereinto such an information (will be referred to as“registered point information B” hereinafter) indicative of a registeredpoint which has been previously registered by an owner of thisnotification apparatus. The identification unit 3 corresponds to anidentification means. The identification unit 3 identifies as to whetheror not the target point information A acquired by the acquisition unit 1is made coincident with the registered point information B stored in thestorage unit 2, and then, transmits an identification result to thenotification unit 4. The notification unit 4 corresponds to anotification means. The notification unit 4 notifies the identificationresult obtained by the identification unit 3 to the owner of thiscommunication apparatus.

[0110] The notification unit 4 performs notifying operation by employingat least any one of generations of synthesized speech, recorded realvoice, warning sound, and the like; indications of a character and asymbol showing an occurrence of an accident; a change in colors of ascreen; a light emission, a vibration, and so on.

[0111] In this specification, both the target point information A andthe registered point information B correspond to an information formedin such a manner that address information, telephone number information,positional information, and personal ID information are systematicallycombined with each other and the combined information is encoded. Itshould be noted that a place which is indicated by both the target pointinformation A and the registered point information B can be specified byemploying the address information. Also, as to the address information,the storage capacity of the storage unit 2 may be reduced by employingsuch a manner that while “prefectures; shi/ku/cho/son(city/ward/town/village); oaza (section of city/ward/town/village)” usedin Japan, and “state, city, street” used in USA/Europe, are expressed byemploying characters and numbers which are determined in accordance witha certain rule, “banchi (block number)” and “go (house number)” arrayedin a ruled manner are employed with these characters and numbers.Furthermore, address information may be represented by way of a rulewhich is commonly used in the world by acquiring such a portionindicative of a country. Thus, such a place which is indicated by boththe target point information A and the registered point information Bcan be specified, namely, even any places within the word irrespectiveof languages may be specified.

[0112] Also, since telephone number information is employed, such aplace indicated by both the target point information A and theregistered point information B may be specified based upon an installedplace of telephone. Also, in a case that a telephone number correspondsto a telephone number of a portable appliance such as a portabletelephone and a PHS, both a person who is located at a place indicatedby the target point information A and an owner of a notificationapparatus where the registered point information B is registered may bespecified. As to the telephone number information, since such numbersarranged in this order of, for example, “country number, telephonenumber, extension number” are employed, either a telephone installedplace within any place in the world or an owner of a notificationapparatus to which the registered point information B is registered maybe specified.

[0113] Also, as to the positional information, for example, sincelatitude and longitude are employed, even in such a place where there isno address thereof, or no telephone number thereof, a place which isindicated by the target point information A and the registered pointinformation B may be specified. Also, a method for expressing positionalinformation may be simplified in such a manner that as the positionalinformation, for instance, while a constant range is segmented and therespective segmented areas are expressed by numbers, positions locatedwithin this constant range are expressed by coordinate values, or thesepositions are arranged in a ruled manner in the order of“latitude/longitude” by numerically expressing latitude and longitude.Furthermore, since “heights” are arranged in a similar manner, in such acase that living stages are different from each other even in the samebuilding, these stages may be specified.

[0114] Also, since personal ID information which has been allocated toeach of individuals is employed, both a person which is located at aplace expressed by the target point information A and an owner of anotification apparatus to which the registered point information B hasbeen registered may be specified.

[0115] A description will be made of a notification method executed bythe notification apparatus according to this embodiment. It should alsobe noted that two different notification methods will now be explainedin this embodiment, and the respective notification methods are definedas a first example and a second example.

FIRST EXAMPLE

[0116]FIG. 4 is a flowchart for describing a notification method of afirst example, which is executed by the notification apparatus of thisembodiment.

[0117] At a first step S1, a judgment is made as to whether or not theacquisition unit 1 acquires the target point information A. If theacquisition unit 1 does not acquire the target point information A, thenthe process operation defined in step S1 is repeatedly carried out. Ifyes, then the process operation is advanced to a step S2. In this stepS2, a check is made as to whether or not the acquired target pointinformation A is identical to the registered point information B storedin the storage unit 2 by the identification unit 3. If the target pointinformation A is not made coincident with the registered pointinformation B, then the process operation is returned to the step S1. Tothe contrary, if the target point information A is made coincident withthe registered point information B, the process operation is advanced toa step S3. In this step S3, the notification unit 4 notifies such a factthat these information A and B are made coincident with each other to anowner of a notification apparatus, and thereafter, the process operationis returned to the step S1.

[0118] As previously explained, in accordance with the notificationmethod of this first example, as a result of identification made by theidentification unit 3, only when the target point information A is madecoincident with the registered point information B stored in the storageunit 2, the notification unit 4 notifies such a fact that the targetpoint information A is made coincident with the registered pointinformation B to the owner of the notification apparatus, namely,notifies such a fact that an emergency event happens to occur at theregistered point.

SECOND EXAMPLE

[0119]FIG. 5 is a flow chart for describing a notification method of asecond example, which is executed by the notification apparatus of thisembodiment.

[0120] At a first step S11, a judgment is made as to whether or not theacquisition unit 1 acquires the target point information A. If theacquisition unit 1 does not acquire the target point information A, thenthe process operation defined in step S1 is repeatedly carried out. Ifyes, then the process operation is advanced to a step S12. In this stepS12, a check is made as to whether or not the acquired target pointinformation A is identical to the registered point information B storedin the storage unit 2 by the identification unit 3. If the target pointinformation A is made coincident with the registered point informationB, then the process operation is advanced to a step S13. To thecontrary, if the target point information A is not made coincident withthe registered point information B, the process operation is advanced toa step S14. In this step S13, the notification unit 4 notifies such afact that these target/registered point information A and B are madecoincident with each other to an owner of a notification apparatus, andthereafter, the process operation is returned to the step S11. Also, inthe step S14, the notification unit 4 notifies such a fact that thesetarget/registered point information A and B are not made coincident witheach other to the above-described owner, and thereafter, the processoperation is returned to the previous step S11.

[0121] As previously explained, in accordance with the notificationmethod of this second example, as a result of identification made by theidentification unit 3, even when the target point information A is made,or not made coincident with the registered point information B stored inthe storage unit 2, the notification unit 4 notifies such anidentification result made by the identification unit 3 to the owner ofthe notification apparatus. It should be understood that notificationmethods are different from each other in a case of “coincident” and of“incoincident.” For instance, in a case that the notification unit 4 isequipped with a display function, when these information A and B arecoincident with each other, a message of “emergency event happens tooccur” is displayed, whereas when these information A and B are notcoincident with each other, another message of “emergency vehicle isjust dispatched” is displayed. As the respective notification methodsindicative of “coincident”, or “incoincident”, instead of thesemessages, a voice generating method, a turn-ON method by a lightemitting means, a vibration method by a vibration means may be replaced.

[0122] As previously explained, in accordance with the notificationmethod and the notification method of this second embodiment, when ahouse location of a user and/or a location of a family are registered asthe registered point information B, the identification unit 3 identifiesthe registered point information B with the target point in formation Awhich indicates a dispatch destination as an accident occurring point ofan emergency vehicle. Then, when these registered point information Band target point information A are made coincident with each other, thenotification unit 4 notifies this fact to the user. As a consequence,the user can immediately know this fact in such a case that theemergency vehicle is dispatched to the registered point.

[0123] Also, in accordance with the notification method of the firstexample, since the notification unit 4 notifies such a fact to the ownerof the notification apparatus only when the target point information Ais made coincident with the registered point information B, this ownercan avoid to have such a cumbersome feeling that this owner receivesnotification having no relationship with himself. Also, in accordancewith the notification method of the second example, since thenotification unit 4 notifies such a fact to the owner irrespective ofsuch a fact as to whether the target point information A is madecoincident, or not coincident with the registered point information B, atotal number of notification is increased, and thus, the owner can havesuch an actual feeling that this owner owns the notification apparatus.Also, such an attention may be paid to such a fact that the event doesnot constitute the dispatch of the emergency vehicle.

[0124] [Second Embodiment]

[0125]FIG. 6 is a structural block diagram for indicating a notificationapparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Inthis drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals shownin FIG. 3 (namely, first embodiment) will be employed as those fordenoting the same, or similar portions, and explanations thereof areomitted.

[0126] As indicated in FIG. 6, similar to the notification apparatus ofthe first embodiment, the notification apparatus according to the secondembodiment is arranged by employing an acquisition unit 1, a storageunit 2, a identification unit 3, and a notification unit 4. It shouldalso be noted that the identification unit 3 of this second embodimentsends not only an identification result made between target pointinformation A and registered point information B, but also thecoincident registered point information B to the notification unit 4.Also, as indicated in FIG. 7, the storage unit 2 is constructed in sucha manner that one record is arranged by one field called as theregistered point information B, and a plurality of records (registeredpoint information) “B₁” to “B_(n)” are arrayed in either an ascent orderor a descent order.

[0127] Next, a notification method which is executed by the notificationapparatus of this second embodiment will now be described with referenceto a flow chart indicated in FIG. 8.

[0128] At a first step S21, a judgment is made as to whether or not theacquisition unit 1 acquires the target point information A. If theacquisition unit 1 does not acquire the target point information A, thenthe process operation defined in step S21 is repeatedly carried out. Ifyes, then the process operation is advanced to a step S22. In this stepS22, a check is made as to whether or not the acquired target pointinformation A is identical to the registered point information B₁ toB_(n) stored in the storage unit 2 by the identification unit 3. Next,in a step S23, a judgment is made as to whether or not the registeredpoint information B which has been identified in the step S22 is madecoincident with the target point information A. If the target pointinformation A is not made coincident with the registered pointinformation B, then the process operation is advanced to a step S24. Tothe contrary, if the target point information A is made coincident withthe registered point information B, the process operation is advanced toa step S25.

[0129] In this step S24, the notification unit 4 notifies such a factthat these target/registered point information A and B are not madecoincident with each other to an owner of a notification apparatus, andthereafter, the process operation is returned to the step S21. Also, inthe step S25, the notification unit 4 notifies such a fact that thesetarget/registered point information A and B are made coincident witheach other, and further notifies the coincident registered pointinformation B to the above-described owner, and thereafter, the processoperation is returned to the step S21. It should also be noted that asindicated in FIG. 9, while the step S24 shown in FIG. 8 is omitted, insuch a case that the registered point information B is not finally madecoincident with the target point information A, the notification unit 4may not issue any notification. In FIG. 9, the same reference numeralscontained in the process steps of the flow chart shown in FIG. 8 areapplied to the same, or similar process steps.

[0130] As previously explained, in accordance with both the notificationapparatus and the notification method of this second embodiment, even insuch a case that a plurality of registered point information B₁ to B_(n)are registered in the storage unit 2, since the identification unit 3sequentially identifies each of these registered point information B₁ toB_(n) with the target point information A one by one, even if the ownerof the notification apparatus registers a plurality of registered pointinformation B₁ to B_(n) into the storage unit 2, this owner canimmediately and easily grasp such a fact that either trouble (event) oran accident happens to occur in which registered point. Also, since theplural sets of these registered point information B₁ to B_(n) are storedin the storage unit 2 in either the ascent order or the descent order,the identification unit 3 is not required to rearrange the order ofthese registered point information B₁ to B_(n), so that the load of theidentifying process operation can be reduced.

[0131] [Third Embodiment]

[0132]FIG. 10 is a structural block diagram for indicating anotification apparatus according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention. In this drawing, it should be noted that the same referencenumerals shown in FIG. 6 (namely, second embodiment) will be employed asthose for denoting the same, or similar portions, and explanationsthereof are omitted.

[0133] As indicated in FIG. 10, the notification apparatus according tothe third embodiment is arranged by further employing a charging unit 5(charging means) in addition to the structural elements owned by thenotification apparatus according to the second embodiment. This chargingunit 5 executes a charging operation in accordance with a charginginstruction “F” which is supplied from the identification unit 3 onlywhen target point information A acquired in the acquisition unit 1 ismade coincident with registered point information B stored in thestorage unit 2.

[0134] As a charging method executed by the charging unit 5, forinstance, similar to a prepaid card, such a mode that a fee is withdrawnfrom a previously paid fee may be employed. Alternatively, another modemay be employed in which charging destination information such as a bankaccount number and a credit card number is transmitted to an informationprovider every charging operation, and then, the information providercharges a fee.

[0135] A notification method executed by the notification apparatus ofthis embodiment will now be explained with reference to a flow chartshown in FIG. 11. It should also be understood that in this drawing, thesame reference numerals shown in FIG. 8 (namely, second embodiment) willbe employed as these for denoting the same, or similar steps, andexplanations thereof are omitted.

[0136] First, in the notification method of this embodiment, afterprocess operations defined from the step S21 to the step S23 have beencarried out, if the target point information A is made coincident withthe registered point information B in the step S23, then the processoperation is advanced to a step S23A. In this step S23A, theidentification unit 3 sends the charging instruction “F” to the chargingunit 5, and the charging unit 5 executes the charging operation, andthereafter, the process operation is advanced to a step S25. Otheroperations are similar to those of the notification method of the secondembodiment.

[0137] It should also be noted that similar to the flow chart shown inFIG. 9 of the second embodiment, while the process operation defined inthe step S24 is omitted, in such a case that the registered pointinformation B is not finally made coincident with the target pointinformation A, the notification unit 4 may send no notification to theabove-described owner. A flow chart of this alternative case isrepresented in FIG. 12.

[0138] As previously explained, in accordance with the notificationapparatus and the notification method of this third embodiment, thecharging operation can be carried out only when the target pointinformation A is made coincident with the registered point information Band thus the notification is given to the owner of this notificationapparatus. As a consequence, as the fee system of the emergency eventnotification service, such a fee system for collecting the service feeonly when a notification is carried out may be employed in addition toanother fee system for regularly collecting a membership fee.

[0139] [Fourth Embodiment]

[0140] Referring now to FIG. 13, a notification apparatus according to afirst example of a fourth embodiment will be explained in the followingexplanations. Subsequently, a notification apparatus according to asecond example will be described with reference to FIG. 14. FIG. 13 is astructural block diagram for indicating the notification apparatus of afirst example according to the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 14 is a structural block diagram for indicating thenotification apparatus of a second example according to the fourthembodiment of the present invention. In this drawing, it should be notedthat the same reference numerals shown in FIG. 6 (namely, secondembodiment) will be employed as those for denoting the same, or similarportions, and explanations thereof are omitted.

[0141] First, as indicated in FIG. 13, the notification apparatus of thefirst example according to the fourth embodiment is arranged byemploying a conversion unit 7 (converting means) in addition to thestructural elements contained in the notification apparatus of thesecond embodiment. The conversion unit 7 converts a sort of target pointinformation A and a sort of registered point information B,respectively. Also, an identification unit 3 of this fourth embodimentexecutes an identifying operation in such a manner that when the sort ofthe target point information A acquired in the acquisition unit 1 isdifferent from the sort of the registered point information B stored inthe storage unit 2, the identification unit 1 once sends information tothe conversion unit 7 so as to convert the information into identifiablesorts, and thereafter performs the identifying operation thereof. Whenthe conversion unit 7 converts the registered point information B intoanother registered point information B′ having a different sort, theidentification unit 3 sends this registered point information B′ to thenotification unit 4.

[0142] Also, in the notification apparatus according to the secondexample of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, a storage unit 2contains therein a table conversion unit 22 in addition to theconversion unit 7, and the conversion unit 7 converts a sort ofinformation by employing this table conversion unit 22. The tableconversion unit 22 stores thereinto various sorts of informationconversion tables. These conversion tables are constituted incorrespondence with address information J, telephone number informationT, personal ID information K, and positional information I, forinstance, as indicated in FIG. 15.

[0143] It should also be noted that in this conversion table 22, since atable number of combinations is increased depending upon precision(fineness), the positional information I is not handled as a key, but ishandled as such an item indicative of typical positions of the addressinformation J, the telephone number information T, and the personal IDinformation K. Alternatively, as to the respective items of the addressinformation J, the telephone number information T, the personal IDinformation K, and the positional information I, other converting tableswhich are aligned in either an ascent order or a descent order may beprepared. In this alternative case, since the information is convertedby employing such conversion tables which are aligned based upon thesorts of the registered point information before being converted,converting time may be reduced.

[0144] In this example, in such a case that the target point informationA corresponds to the address information J and the registered pointinformation B corresponds to the telephone number information T, theidentifying unit 3 informs the conversion unit 7 to convert the targetpoint information A into the telephone number information T. Theconversion unit 7 converts the address information J received from theidentification unit 3 into the telephone number information Tcorresponding thereto by employing the table conversion unit 22, andthereafter, sends the converted telephone number information T to theidentification unit 3. However, since a total number of the transmittedtelephone number information T is not always equal to 1, the conversionunit 7 judges as to whether or not all of the address information whichhave been registered in the conversion table shown in FIG. 15 arecoincident with the address information received from the identificationunit 3, and then sends all of the corresponding telephone numberinformation T to the identification unit 3.

[0145] Also, in such a case that plural sorts of registered pointinformation B which have been registered in the storage unit 2 are notidentical to each other, every time the identification unit 3 identifiesone of registered point information B with the target point informationA, this registered point information B may be converted by theconversion unit 7 in such a manner that the sort of this registeredpoint information B is made coincident with the sort of the target pointinformation A.

[0146] As previously explained, in accordance with the notificationapparatus of this embodiment, since the conversion unit 7 can convertthe sort of the target point information A and the sort of theregistered point information B, even in such a case that both a sort oftarget point information A is different from a sort of registered pointinformation B, which will be identified with each other, theidentification unit 3 can identify these sorts of target/registeredpoint information A and B with each other. It should be noted that as aresult of identification, the identification unit 3 may notify theidentification result only when these sorts of target/registered pointinformation A/B are coincident with each other. Otherwise, theidentification unit 3 may notify the identification result irrespectiveof such a fact as to whether or not the sort of target point informationA is identical to the sort of registered point information B.Alternatively, this notification apparatus may be provided with thecharging unit 5 owned by the notification apparatus of the thirdembodiment, and then may perform charging operation only when the sortof target point information A is made coincident with the sort ofregistered point information B.

[0147] [Fifth Embodiment]

[0148]FIG. 6 is a structural block diagram for indicating a notificationapparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Inthis drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals shownin FIG. 14 (namely, second example of fourth embodiment) will beemployed as those for denoting the same, or similar portions, andexplanations thereof are omitted. As represented in FIG. 16, thenotification apparatus according to the fifth embodiment is arranged byemploying a map unit 23 contained in the storage unit 2, instead of thetable conversion unit 22 owned by the notification apparatus accordingto the second example of the fourth embodiment. The map unit 23 storesthereinto the below-mentioned map information M.

[0149] A conversion unit 7 of this fifth embodiment is to convertpositional information I of target point information A and/or positionalinformation I of registered point information B into address informationJ by employing address map information MJ stored in the map unit 23. Ina case that the acquired target point information A and/or the acquiredregistered point information B corresponds to the positional informationI, this conversion unit 7 absorbs an error between the target pointinformation A and the registered point information B, and then, canidentify the target point information A with the registered pointinformation B in an identification unit 3. Also, the above-describederror indicates a “shift” which is produced due to a precisiondifference in such a case that, for example, both the target pointinformation A and the registered point information B are equal to thepositional information I, as shown in FIG. 17, although positions whichare indicated by the target point information A and the registered pointinformation B represent such places which are indicated by a hatchedline.

[0150] As indicated in FIG. 18, the map information M recorded by themap unit 23 may be classified into the address map information MJ andother map information MS, and is constituted by a shape “S” and anattribute “Z” as represented in FIG. 19. As shown in FIG. 20, the shapeS is constructed of both a positional information number IC and apositional information group IG which is constituted by at least onepositional information I. Also, the attribute Z indicates either adisplay method or an indication for implying the shape S containing dotssuch as character strings. This display method is related to a color, awidth, and a texture of the shape S which is expressed by the positionalinformation group IG.

[0151]FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a structure ofthe address map information MJ contained in the map information M. Theshape S of the address map information MJ corresponds to a shape used toform an address. In this case, the shape S will be especially called asan “address shape” JS. Also, the attribute Z is arranged by addressinformation J indicative of an address and an address rule JR indicativeof a rule of an address which indicates the address shape JS. As to theaddress information J, an address map be directly indicated bycharacters, or characters may be systematically coded. Also, in a casethat there are rules which are commonly defined by all ranges, or alarge range, the address rule JR may be omitted.

[0152] For instance, in Japan, the address shape JS is expressed byshapes of administrative boundaries such an Japanese administrativedivisions (prefectures; shi/ku/cho/son (city/ward/town/village); oaza(section of city/ward/town/village); and banchi (house number)), and byplane shapes indicative of sites of personal houses. Also, the addressinformation J is expressed by that addresses of plane shapes aredirectly expressed by characters, or addresses are systematically coded.Also, the address rule JR is omitted, since there is a commonly-usedrule, namely positions contained in plane shapes belong to addressesthereof.

[0153] Also, for example, in USA/Europe where addresses are expressed bystreet names, the address shape JS is expressed by such shapes thatstreets are represented by line shapes. Also, as to the addressinformation J, addresses containing street names are directly expressedby characters, or addresses are systematically coded. Furthermore, theaddress rule JR is arranged by defining addresses along streets incorrespondence with rules, into which addresses of both sides of thesestreets are described.

[0154] It should also be noted that when the amount of the address mapinformation JM is increased, such a management manner is preferable,since the map unit 23 takes long time so as to seek the address shape JScorresponding to the positional information I received by the conversionunit 7. That is, the positional information is segmented, and thesegmented positional information which are stored every segment ismanaged as management information. In this alternative case, the mapunit 23 may seek such a segment containing the positional information Ifrom the management information, and then may seek a correspondingaddress shape within this sought segment, so that resulting conversiontime may be shortened.

[0155] Next, a description is made of operations executed by thenotification apparatus according to this fifth embodiment. In such acase that the address shapes JS are expressed by the plane shapes as inJapan, the conversion unit 7 judges as to whether or not the receivedpositional information I is located within all of the address shapes(plane shapes) present on the address map information MJ of the map unit23, specifies a plane shape in which the positional information I ispresent, and sends the address information J corresponding to this planeshape to the identification unit 3.

[0156] Also, in a case that the address shapes JS are expressed by theline shapes as in USA/Europe, the conversion unit 7 calculates lengthsbetween perpendiculars as to the received positional information I andall of the line shapes on the map unit 23. Then, the conversion unit 7specifies an address up to a street name corresponding to a line shapewhose length between perpendiculars is the shortest length, anddetermines the remaining addresses based upon the address rule JR alongthis street, for example, determines that this address is located onwhich side of this street, or how long this address is separated farfrom a position whose address is known. Then, the conversion unit 7returns the determined address to the identification unit 3 as theaddress information J of the received positional information I.

[0157] In this fifth embodiment, in a case that the target pointinformation A corresponds to the positional information I and theregistered point information B corresponds to the address information J,the identification unit 3 sends the acquired target point information Ato the conversion unit 7. As previously described, the conversion unit 7converts the received positional information I into the addressinformation J, and then returns the converted address information J tothe identification unit 3. The identification unit 3 identifies a targetpoint information A′ which has been converted into the addressinformation J received from the conversion unit 7 with the registeredpoint information B which has been registered into the storage unit 2,and then sends the identification result to the notification unit 4.

[0158] For example, concrete operations will now be explained as such anexample that the address shape JS is expressed by a plane shape as inJapan. Also, in such a case that while the address information J isstored as the registered point information B, the acquisition unit 1acquires the positional information I as the target point information A,and also, the address map information MJ of the map unit 23 isrepresented as in FIG. 17, when the conversion unit 7 receives thetarget point information A from the identification unit 7 as thepositional information I of FIG. 17, the conversion unit 7 judges as towhether or not the received positional information I is located insideof which plane shape as to the address shapes JS₁ to JS₁₃. In this case,since the target point information A received by the conversion unit 7is contained within the plane shape of the address shape JS₇, theconversion unit 7 returns the address information J₇ corresponding tothis address shape JS₇ to the identification unit 3 in accordance withthe table indicated in FIG. 21. The identification unit 3 identifies theregistered point information B of the storage unit 2 with the addressinformation J received from the conversion unit 7, and judges theseregistered point/address information B/J as “being coincident” in a casethat the address information J₇ is not stored as the registered pointinformation B.

[0159] Also, in such a case that the target point information Acorresponds to the address information J and the registered pointinformation B corresponds to the positional information I, theconversion unit 7 converts the registered point information B into theaddress information J so as to be identified every time theidentification unit 3 identifies one registered point information B.Also, in such a case that both the target point information A and theregistered point information B correspond to the positional informationI, every time the acquired target point information A is converted intothe address information I by the converting unit 7 and further oneregistered point information B is identified by the identification unit3, the registered point information B is converted into the addressinformation J by the conversion unit 7 so as to be identified. Aspreviously explained, the positional information I received by theconversion unit 7 may be equal to either the target point information Aor the registered point information B.

[0160] Next, a description will now be made of such an example that thetable conversion unit 22 shown in FIG. 14 and owned by the notificationapparatus according to the second example of the fourth embodiment isemployed in the storage unit 2 of this fifth embodiment with referenceto FIG. 22. Since the conversion unit 7 of this example performs theconverting process operation by being combined with both the tableconversion unit 22, as to the sort of the information capable ofabsorbing the error of the positional information in the first exampleof the above-described fifth embodiment, the error can be absorbed evenby not only the address information J, but also the telephone numberinformation T and the personal ID information K.

[0161] In this example, in such a case that the target point informationA corresponds to the positional information I and also the registeredpoint information B corresponds to either the telephone numberinformation T or the personal ID information K, the conversion unit 7firstly converts the positional information I functioning as the targetpoint information A into the address information J by employing the mapunit 23, as explained above. Next, the conversion unit 7 converts theaddress information J into either the telephone number information T orthe personal ID information K by employing the table conversion unit 22,and then returns the converted information T, or K to the identificationunit 3. The identification unit 3 identifies either the telephone numberinformation T or the personal ID information K as the target pointinformation A′ received from the conversion unit 7 with the registeredpoint information B stored in the storage unit 2, and then the sends theidentification result to the notification unit 4.

[0162] Also, in such a case that the target point information Acorresponds to either the telephone number information T or the personalID information K, and also the registered point information Bcorresponds to the positional information I, every time theidentification unit 3 identifies one of the registered point informationB, this identification unit 3 sends the registered point information Bto the conversion unit 7. The conversion unit 7 converts the positionalinformation I as the registered point information B into the addressinformation J by employing the map unit 23, and subsequently convertsthe address information J into either the telephone number information Tor the personal ID information K by using the table conversion unit 22and then returns the converted information to the identification unit 3.The identification unit 3 identifies the target point information A witheither the telephone number information T or the personal ID informationK, which functions as the registered point information B′ received fromthe conversion unit 7.

[0163] It should also be noted that the identification unit 3 mayconverts the acquired target point information A into the addressinformation J by employing both the conversion unit 7 and the tableconversion unit 22, and subsequently, may convert the registered pointinformation B into the address information J every time theidentification unit 3 identifies one registered point information B.

[0164] As previously explained, in accordance with the notificationapparatus of this fifth embodiment, after the positional information Ihas been converted into the address information J by the conversion unit7, the identification unit 3 identifies the address information J withthe target point information A, so that the identification unit 3 canperform the identifying operation by absorbing the error caused by thedifference in the precision of the positional information I. It shouldalso be noted that as a result of this identifying operation, thenotification unit 4 may notify the identification result only when theaddress information is made coincident with the target pointinformation. Alternatively, the notification unit 4 may notify theidentification result irrespective of such a fact as to whether theaddress information is made coincident with the target point informationA, or not. Also, when the address information is made coincident withthe target point information A, the notification unit 4 may notify theidentification result in combination with such a fact that whichregistered point information B can be made coincident with the targetpoint information A. Furthermore, the charging unit 5 owned by thenotification apparatus of the third embodiment is employed, and then,the charging system may be provided in a case that the registered pointinformation B is made coincident with the target point information A.

[0165] [Sixth Embodiment]

[0166] An arrangement of a notification apparatus according to a sixthembodiment is similar to the arrangement of the notification apparatusaccording to any one of the first embodiment to the fifth embodiment. Anidentification unit 3 of this sixth embodiment identifies as to whetheror not a place indicated by target point information A acquired by anacquisition unit 1 is located within a constant range in which a placeindicated by registered point information B stored in a storage unit 2is located as a center thereof.

[0167] In this sixth embodiment, in a case that the identifyingoperation is carried out based upon the address information J, a rangedefined up to “oaza” of the target point information A, another ragedefined up to “banchi” thereof, or another range defined up to “go” of aroom number of an aggregated house such as a mansion is used as anidentification subject in Japan. Also, in USA/Europe where addresses aredescribed in names of streets, a range defined up to a street name,another range defined up to azimuth of north/south/east/west, or anotherrange defined up to an upper digit number of an address is employed asan identification subject.

[0168] Also, in a case of such address information which have beensystematically coded, assuming now that upper digits of codes indicatebroad concept, a range defined from an upper digit up to a preselecteddigit is employed an identification subject, whereas assuming now thatlower digits of the codes indicate broad concept, another range definedfrom a lower digit up to a preselected digit is used as anidentification subject. This systematically coded address informationmay be independently determined on the basis of a certain basis. Forinstance, postal codes (ZIP Code) may be employed. Also, in a case thatidentifying operation is carried out based upon the telephone number T,for instance, a range defined up to a local station number is employedas an identification subject. Furthermore, in a case that theidentifying operation is carried out based upon the personal IDinformation K, assuming now that there is such a rule that values areequal to each other up to a constant digit every household as to thecoding rule, a range defined up to the household is used as anidentification subject.

[0169] Also, in a case that the identifying operation is carried outbased upon the positional information I, assuming now that a constantrange is segmented, each of these segmented ranges is expressed by anumber, and then, a position within this range is expressed by acoordinate value, a range defined up to this segment number, or anotherrange defined from an upper digit of each of the coordinate values up toseveral digits is employed as an identification subject. Also, assumingnow that the positional information I is expressed bylatitude/longitude, such a range defined from an upper digit of thelatitude up to several digits thereof, and another range defined from anupper digit of the longitude up to several digits thereof are used as anidentification subject.

[0170] Next, a notification method which is executed by the notificationapparatus of this sixth embodiment will now be described with referenceto a flow chart indicated in FIG. 23.

[0171] At a first step S31, a judgment is made as to whether or not theacquisition unit 1 acquires the target point information A. If theacquisition unit 1 does not acquire the target point information A, thenthe process operation defined in step S31 is repeatedly carried out. Ifyes, then the process operation is advanced to a step S32. In this stepS32, a check is made as to whether or not the acquired target pointinformation A is identical to the registered point information B₁ toB_(n) stored in the storage unit 2 by the identification unit 3. Next,in a step S33, a judgment is made as to whether or not one registeredpoint information B is entirely made coincident with the target pointinformation A based upon the identification result obtained in the stepS32. If this target point information A is entirely made coincident withthis registered point information B, then the process operation isadvanced to a step S35. To the contrary, if the target point informationA is not entirely made coincident with the registered point informationB, the process operation is advanced to a step S34.

[0172] In the step S35, the notification unit 4 notifies to the owner ofthe notification apparatus, such a fact that the target pointinformation A is entirely made coincident with the registered pointinformation B of one record of the storage unit 2, and then, the processoperation is returned to the step S31. Also, in the step S34, a judgmentis made as to whether or not a place indicated by the target pointinformation A is located within a constant range where a place indicatedby the registered point information B is located as a center. If thefirst-mentioned place is located within the constant range, the processoperation is advanced to a step S37. To the contrary, if thefirst-mentioned place is not located within this constant range, theprocess operation is returned to the step S31. In the step S37, thenotification unit 4 notifies such a fact that the registered pointinformation B is made coincident with the target point information Awithin the constant range to the above-described owner, and then, theprocess operation is returned to the step S31.

[0173] It should be noted that both the notification method executed inthe step S35 and the notification method executed in the step S37 arecarried out in accordance with various different modes, for instance, adisplay content, voice, light emission, and vibrations. As a result,since the owner can easily know a dangerous degree, such kindnotification may be carried out.

[0174] As previously explained, in accordance with the notificationmethod and the notification method of this sixth embodiment, thenotification unit 4 can notify such a fact to the owner of thenotification apparatus even when the target point which is indicated bythe target point information A and to which the emergency vehicle isdirected is located near the registered point indicated by theregistered point information B. Also, in such a case that only such anapproximate place indicated by the target point information A is knownwhich is not so detail as compared with the registered point informationB, the notification unit 4 may notify confirmation notification.Alternatively, while the charging unit 5 employed in the notificationapparatus of the third embodiment is provided with this notificationapparatus, such a charging system may be realized and performed in sucha case that the registered point information B is entirely madecoincident with the target point information A and/or the registeredpoint information B is made coincident with the target point informationA within a constant range. Also, since charge amounts are involved in acharging instruction issued from the identification unit 3 to thecharging unit 5, charge amounts may be varied in such a case that theregistered point information B is entirely made coincident with thetarget point information B and also is made coincident within a constantrange.

[0175] [Seventh Embodiment]

[0176]FIG. 24 is a structural block diagram for indicating anotification apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the presentinvention. In this drawing, it should be noted that the same referencenumerals shown in FIG. 3 (namely, first embodiment) will be employed asthose for denoting the same, or similar portions, and explanationsthereof are omitted. As indicated in FIG. 24, the notification apparatusaccording to the seventh embodiment is arranged by further employing amap forming unit 10 (map forming means) in addition to the structuralelements owned by the notification apparatus according to the firstembodiment, and a storage unit 2 contains a map unit 23 corresponding toa map information storage means.

[0177] When an identifying operation is ended, an identification unit 3produces a map forming instruction MR containing a plurality ofpositional information “I” by employing registered point information Bstored in the storage unit 2 and/or target point information A acquiredfrom an acquisition unit 1, and then sends the produced map forminginstruction MR to the map forming unit 10. As represented in FIG. 20,the map forming instruction MR is constituted by a positionalinformation number IC indicative of a total number of positionalinformation I, and a positional information group IG which is made ofplural sets of the positional information I, the total quantity of whichis equal to a total number of the above-described positional informationIC.

[0178] Also, the map forming unit 10 receives the map forminginstruction MR from the identification unit 3, derives map information Mfrom the map unit 23, and thereafter, forms such a map information M′and then sends this formed map information M′ to the notification unit4. That is, the map forming unit 10 forms this map information M′ in themost enlarged scale, where all of the map information I is expressed asmarks on the map, while this most enlarged scale contains a plurality ofpositional information I indicated by the map forming instruction MR. Asystem for deriving the map information from the map unit 23 by the mapforming unit 10 may be conceived as follows. That is, as shown in FIG.25, while both a maximum value and a minimum value of the positionalinformation I indicated by the map forming instruction MR are specified,all of such map information M which contains positional informationbetween the maximum value and the minimum value may be derived.Alternatively, while an information deriving range is widened byextending a predetermined value from the maximum value along a plusdirection and a predetermined value from the minimum value along a minusdirection, any information may be derived. Also, in such a case that themap unit 23 stores map information which has been segmented within aconstant range, all of such segments may be derived which are containedbetween the maximum value and the minimum value of the positionalinformation I indicated by the map forming instruction MR.

[0179] Also, while a direction of an indication is considered, the mapforming unit 10 may change the entire direction of the formed mapinformation M′ in such a manner that, for instance, the target pointinformation A is located at an upper portion, and then may cut out onlya rectangular portion which is used in the map indication so as to sendthe cut rectangular portion to the notification unit 4. Also, when themap information M′ is formed, in a case that there are large numbers ofderived map information M, the map forming unit 10 may apply priorityorders to these derived map information M in accordance with theattribute Z, and then may form this map information M′ by employing onlysuch map information M′ having higher priority orders.

[0180] Also, the notification unit 4 displays the map information M′formed in the map forming unit 10 so as to notify this map informationM′ to the owner of the notification apparatus. The map information M′may be realized even by a vector map constituted by both a coordinatevalue and a character string, even by a raster map such as a bit map, oreven by compressing these vector map and raster map. Since aninformation amount as to the map information M′ of the vector map issmaller than that of the raster map, necessary information can bequickly sent to the notification unit 4. Also, in a case that the mapinformation M′ of the raster map is sent to the notification unit 4, thenotification unit 4 need not be equipped with a function capable ofdisplaying the vector map. In a case that the map information M′corresponds to either the compressed vector map or the compressed rastermap, since an information amount of this compressed information issmaller than that of the non-compressed information, necessaryinformation can be quickly sent to the notification unit 4.

[0181] It should also be noted that the notification unit 4 mayalternately display both the map information M′, and such an indicationof either “! emergency event happens to occur!” or “emergency vehicle isbeing dispatched” every time constant time has elapsed. Also, asrepresented in FIG. 26, while the registered point information B isdisplayed, a guide content by voice may be changed; while a lightemitting means is employed, a method for turning ON this light emittingmeans maybe changed; or while a vibration means is employed, a vibrationmethod thereof may be changed. Alternatively, only when the registeredpoint information B is made coincident with the target point informationA, the map forming unit 10 is operated and then the notification unit 4may display the map information M′. A notification method executed bythe notification apparatus of this embodiment will now be explained withreference to a flow chart shown in FIG. 27. It should also be understoodthat in this drawing, the same reference numerals shown in FIG. 8(namely, second embodiment) will be employed as those for denoting thesame, or similar steps, and explanations thereof are omitted.

[0182] First, in a step S23, the identification unit 3 identifies thetarget point information A with the registered point information B. Inthis step S23, in a case that these target/registered point informationA/B are made coincident with each other, the identification unit 3produces the map forming instruction MR by employing only the coincidentregistered point information B. At this time, the positional informationnumber IC of the map forming instruction MR becomes “1”.

[0183] On the other hand, in a case that all of the registered pointinformation B is not made coincident with the target point information Ain the step C23, the process operation is advanced to a step S28. Inthis step S28, the identification unit 3 produces the map forminginstruction MR based upon both the target point information A and all ofthe registered point information B. At this time, the map forminginstruction MR is constituted in such a manner that the target pointinformation A is set to first positional information I₁, and theregistered point information B is set to second positional informationI₂ and the subsequent positional information I_(n). In order todiscriminate the first positional information I₁ of the map forminginstruction MR from the second positional information I₂ to thesubsequent positional information I_(n), the positional information I₁and the positional information I₂ to I_(n) are expressed by usingdifferent colors and different shaped marks. As a consequence, thepositional information number IC of the map forming instruction MRbecomes “number of target point information A+number of registered pointinformation B”. Finally, in a step S29, the identification unit 3transmits the map forming instruction MR which is formed in either thestep S27 or the step S28 to the map forming unit 10, and then, theprocess operation is returned to the step S21.

[0184] Thereafter, the map forming unit 10 sends to the notificationunit 4, the map information M′ in which all of the positionalinformation I of the map forming instruction MR have been expressed bythe marks based upon both the map forming instruction MR sent from theidentification unit 3 and the map information M supplied from the mapunit 23. This notification unit 4 displays this map information M′ andnotifies the map information M′ to the owner.

[0185] When the registered point information B is made coincident withthe target point information A, as shown in FIG. 26, a peripheral areaof this registered point information B is displayed in an enlarge manneras the map information M′. On the other hand, in such a case that all ofthe registered point information B is not made coincident with thetarget point information A, as shown in FIG. 28, all of the registeredpoint information B and the target point information A are compressed tobe displayed as the map information M′ in such a manner that theseregistered point information B and target point information A may bedisplayed. As a result, the notification unit 4 can notify either“coincident” or “not coincident” to the owner in avisible/easy-understandable manner. In a case that the registered pointinformation B is not made coincident with the target point informationA, since the positions of the target point information A and of theregistered point information B can be grasped and also all of theregistered point information B is displayed, the owner can confirm as towhether or not the registered point constitutes the identificationsubject.

[0186] As previously explained, in accordance with the notificationapparatus and the notification method of this seventh embodiment, sincethe notification unit 4 of the notification apparatus for displaying themap information M′ represents both the target point information A andthe registered point information B as the marks on the map, both theposition indicated by the target point information A and the positionindicated by the registered point information B which constitutes theidentification subject can be notified in thevisible/easy-understandable manner. Furthermore, the charging unit 5owned by the notification apparatus of the third embodiment is employed,and then, the charging system may be provided in a case that theregistered point information B is made coincident with the target pointinformation A. Also, while both the conversion unit 7 and the tableconversion unit 22 are provided which have been explained in the fourthembodiment, after the sorts of both the target point information A andthe registered point information B are converted by the conversion unit7, these converted target/registered point information A/B may be madecoincident with each other. Also, while the map unit 23 of the storageunit 2 is employed which has been explained in the fifth embodiment, theerror between the target point information A and the registered pointinformation B may be absorbed.

[0187] Also, in such a case that a result of identifying operationexecuted between the target point information A and the registered pointinformation B becomes “incoincident”, as shown in FIG. 29, theidentification unit 3 may not involve the target point information Ainto the map forming instruction MR sent to the map forming unit 10. Atthis time, as to an unhappy aspect of a third party, although such anevent that an emergency vehicle is dispatched happens to occur in anypersons other than the owner, since no one knows the occurrence of thisemergency event and also where this emergency event occurs, the privacycan be guarded.

[0188] [Eighth Embodiment]

[0189] In the notification apparatus of the seventh embodiment, the mapforming instruction MR contains the positional information I, whereas ina notification apparatus of an eighth embodiment, a map forminginstruction MR is constructed of address information J. FIG. 30 is anexplanatory diagram for showing a structure of the map forminginstruction MR in the eighth embodiment. As represented in this drawing,the map forming instruction MR is constituted by an address informationnumber JC indicative of a total number of address information J, and anaddress information group JG which is made of plural sets of the addressinformation J, the total quantity of which is equal to a total number ofthe above-described address information JC.

[0190] An identification unit 3 of this eighth embodiment checks as towhether or not target point information A is identified with registeredpoint information B. As a result of this identifying operation, in acase that these target/registered point information A/B are madecoincident with each other, the identification unit 3 produces the mapforming instruction MR by employing only one address information Jcorresponding to the coincident registered point information B. At thistime, the address information number JC of the map forming instructionMR becomes “1”. As a result of this identifying operation, in a casethat all of the registered point information B is not made coincidentwith the target point information A, the identification unit 3 producesthe map forming instruction MR based upon address information Jcorresponding to both the target point information A and all of theregistered point information B. At this time, the map forminginstruction MR is constituted in such a manner that the target pointinformation A is set to first address information J₁, and the registeredpoint information B is set to second address information J₂ and thesubsequent address information J_(n). As a consequence, the addressinformation number JC of the map forming instruction MR becomes “numberof target point information A+number of registered point information B”.

[0191] Also, the map forming unit 10 of this eighth embodiment receivesthe information forming instruction MR which contains at least oneaddress information J from the identification unit 3, and derives anaddress shape JS from the address map information MJ (see FIG. 21)stored in the map unit 23 of the storage unit 2. This address shape JScorresponds to each of the address information J contained in the mapforming instruction MR.

[0192] Next, both a maximum value and a minimum value are obtained fromall of the positional information I contained in the derived addressshape JS, and then, map information which contains positionalinformation between the maximum value and the minimum value is derivedfrom the map unit 23. Alternatively, while an information deriving rangeis widened by extending a predetermined value from the maximum valuealong a plus direction and a predetermined value from the minimum valuealong a minus direction, the map forming unit 10 may derive the mapinformation M. Also, in such a case that the map unit 23 stores mapinformation which has been segmented within a constant range, all ofsuch segments may be derived which are contained between the maximumvalue and the minimum value of the positional information I indicated bythe map forming instruction MR.

[0193] Next, the map forming unit 10 forms a map in such a manner thatthe derived map information M may be expressed in the most enlargedscale, and represents the address shapes JS corresponding to therespective address information J of the map forming instruction MR onthis formed map by changing either the color representation or the widthrepresentation as compared with those of other address shapes JS, andthen, sends this resultant map as the map information M′ to thenotification unit 4. The notification unit 4 displays the mapinformation M′ received from the map forming unit 10 so as to notifythis map information M′ to the owner. FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagramfor explaining an image of the map information M′ made by displaying theaddress shapes JS on the map.

[0194] In such a case that the address information J of the map forminginstruction MR received from the identification unit 3 is coarser thanthe address information J of the address map information MJ of the mapunit 23, the map forming unit 10 displays address shapes JS of all ofthe address map information MJ as the address shape JS corresponding tothe map forming instruction MR on the map information M′, while all ofthese address map information MJ owns such address information J, evenwhich is partially made coincident with the address information J of themap forming instruction MR. As a consequence, in such a case that thecontent of the target point information A is not so precise than that ofthe registered point information B, and thus only an approximate placeis known, and also in a case that both the target point information Aand the registered point information B are located within a constantrange, the identification unit 3 constitutes the address information J₁of the map forming instruction MR based upon either the target pointinformation A itself whose content is not so precise than that of theregistered point information B, or the portion of the target pointinformation A which is made coincident with the registered pointinformation B. Also, the identification unit 3 constitutes the addressinformation J₂ and the subsequent address information thereof based uponeither all of the registered point information B stored in the storageunit 2 or a partial portion of the registered point information B whichis made coincident with the target point information A. As aconsequence, the target point information may be represented by theshape indicative of the wide range whereas the registered pointinformation B is represented by the narrow range, namely, the mapinformation M′ may be expressed by such a shape which is substantiallysame as a dot, so that visible/easy-understandable notification can begiven to the owner of the notification apparatus.

[0195]FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a correspondencerelationship among a condition during identifying operation, a result ofidentifying operation, a structure of a map forming instruction, and mapinformation. In this drawing, a case (a) corresponds to such a case thatthe content of the target point information A is not so precise thanthat of the registered point information B, and as a result ofidentifying operation, any one of registered point information B_(x) ismade coincident with the target point information A. In this case, as tothe structure of the map forming instruction MR, the first addressinformation J₁ is equal to the target point information A itself, and aportion of the second and subsequent address information J correspondsto the registered point information B_(x). An image of the mapinformation M′ formed in this case (a) is represented in FIG. 33.

[0196] Also, a case (b) corresponds to such a case that the content ofthe target point information A is not so precise than that of theregistered point information B, and as a result of identifyingoperation, all of the registered point information is not madecoincident with the target point information. In this case, as to thestructure of the map forming instruction MR, the first addressinformation J₁ is equal to the target point information A itself, andalso the second and subsequent address information J correspond to allof the registered point information B₁ to B_(n) stored in the storageunit 2. An image of the map information M′ formed in this case (b) isrepresented in FIG. 34.

[0197] Also, a case (c) corresponds to such a case that an identifyingoperation is made as to whether or not a range where the registeredpoint information B is located at a center thereof is made coincidentwith the target point information A, and as a result of this identifyingoperation, anyone of registered point information B_(x) is madecoincident with the target point information A. In this case, as to thestructure of the map forming instruction MR, the first addressinformation J₁ is equal to such a portion within the target pointinformation A, which is used in the identifying operation, and alsosecond and subsequent address information J correspond to the registeredpoint information B_(x). An image of the map information M′ formed inthis case (c) is represented in FIG. 33.

[0198] Furthermore, a case (d) corresponds to such a case that anidentifying operation is made as to whether or not a range where theregistered point information B is located at a center thereof is madecoincident with the target point information A, and as a result ofidentifying operation, all of registered point information is not madecoincident with the target point information A. In this case, as to thestructure of the map forming instruction MR, the first addressinformation J₁ is equal to such a portion within the target pointinformation A, which is used in the identifying operation, and alsosecond and subsequent address information J correspond to all of theregistered point information B₁ to B_(n). An image of the mapinformation M′ formed in this case (d) is shown in FIG. 34.

[0199] A concrete example of the above-described case (b) will beexplained as follows: It is so assumed that the address information Jdefined up to “prefectures”, “shi/ku/cho/son (city/ward/town/village)”,“oaza (section of city/ward/town/village”, “banchi (block number)”, and“go (house number)” has been registered as the registered pointinformation B, whereas the target point information A received by theidentification unit 3 is constructed only of “prefectures”,“shi/ku/cho/son (city/ward/town/village)”, “oaza (section)” and “chome(subsection)”. Then, the identification unit 3 identifies the receivedtarget point information A with the registered point information Bwithin such a range defined up to “prefectures”, “shi/ku/cho/son”,“oaza”, and “chome”. In this case, in such a case that all of theregistered point information B is not made coincident with the targetpoint information A, as to the map forming instruction MR to be notifiedto the map forming unit 10, the address information J₁ is constituted bythe acquired target point information A itself, and also the addressinformation J₂ and the subsequent address information are constituted byall of the registered point information B.

[0200] As to the address information J₁ of the map forming instructionMR received by the map forming unit 10, since such information definedup to only “prefectures”, “shi/ku/cho/son”, “oaza”, and “chome” isdescribed, this map forming unit 10 derives such an address shape JSfrom the address map information JM of the map unit 23, and thenrepresents this derived address shape JS in red colors, for example.This address shape JS owns such an address information J whoseinformation defined up to “prefectures”, “shi/ku/cho/son”, “oaza”, and“chome” is made coincident therewith. Also, as to the addressinformation J₂ to J_(n) of the map forming instruction MR received bythe map forming unit 10, since such information defined up to“prefectures”, “shi/ku/cho/son (city/ward/town/village)”, “oaza(section)”, “chome (subsection)”, “banchi (block number)”, and “go(house number)” is described, the map forming unit 10 derives such anaddress shape JS from the address map information JM of the map unit 23,and then expresses this derived address shape JS in, for instance, bluecolors. This address shape JS owns such an address information J whoseinformation defined up to “prefectures”, “shi/ku/cho/son”, “oaza”,“chome”, “banchi”, and “go” is made coincident therewith.

[0201] The map forming unit 10 calculates both a maximum value and aminimum value from the positional information I of all of the derivedaddress shapes JS, and then derives such a map information M containedin this range from the map unit 23. The map forming unit 10 forms such amap in a maximum scale, which contains all of the derived mapinformation M, and produces map information M′, and then sends thisproduced map information M′ to the notification unit 4. In this mapinformation M′, the address shape JS corresponding to the addressinformation J indicated by the map forming instruction MR is representedin both the red color and the blue color on this formed map. As aresult, as shown in FIG. 34, since such a map information M is displayedin which the target point information A is represented by a shapeindicative of a wide range and also the registered point information Bis represented by a shape indicative of a narrow range, the mapinformation M can be notified in visible/easy-understandable manner tothe owner.

[0202] It should be understood that the Japanese address information hasbeen described in the above-described example. In a case of theUSA/European address information in which addresses are indicated bystreet names, when the above-described address of “chome” is replaced byan address of “street name”, the above-described notification method maybe similarly applied. Also, in the above-explained eighth embodiment,the address map information MJ has been indicated in the map unit 23,assuming that only the address shapes having the most preciseclassification have been stored. Alternatively, such address shapeshaving large classifications other than the address shapes having themost precise classification may be stored. In this alternative case, theaddress information J corresponding to this address shape JS is storedby omitting the fineness thereof in response to the magnitude of theclassification. The map forming unit 10 derives all of the addressshapes JS which are made coincident with the received addressinformation J from the address map information MJ of the map unit 23 andthen forms a map. This implies that for instance, in Japan, in a casethat the shape having the most precise classification is defined as asite shape of a personal house, the shapes having the largeclassification are defined as shapes of “banchi”, “oaza”,“shi/ku/cho/son”, and “prefectures”.

[0203] As previously described, in accordance with both the notificationapparatus and the notification method of this eighth embodiment, sinceboth the target point information A and the registered point informationB are represented as the shapes on the map, both the target pointinformation A and the registered point information B which constitutesthe subject of the identifying operation can be notified in thevisible/easy-understandable manner. It should also be noted that thecharging unit 5 owned by the notification apparatus of the thirdembodiment is employed, and then, the charging system may be provided ina case that the registered point information B is made coincident withthe target point information A. Also, while both the conversion unit 7and the table conversion unit 22 are provided which have been explainedin the fourth embodiment, after the sorts of both the target pointinformation A and the registered point information B are converted bythe conversion unit 7, these converted target/registered pointinformation A/B maybe made coincident with each other.

[0204] [Ninth Embodiment]

[0205]FIG. 35 is a structural block diagram for indicating anotification apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the presentinvention. In this drawing, it should be noted that the same referencenumerals shown in FIG. 3 (namely, first embodiment) will be employed asthose for denoting the same, or similar portions, and explanationsthereof are omitted. As indicated in FIG. 35, similar to thenotification apparatus of the first embodiment, the notificationapparatus according to the ninth embodiment is arranged by employing anacquisition unit 1, a storage unit 2, an identification unit 3, and anotification unit 4. It should also be noted that the acquisition unit 1of this ninth embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment,and is capable of acquiring a plurality of target point information A.

[0206] The acquisition unit 1 of this ninth embodiment acquires firsttarget point information “A1” where an accident occurring point to whichan emergency vehicle is dispatched is defined as a first target point,and also acquires second target point information “A2” where a medicaltreatment point to which the emergency vehicle is dispatched so as toperform a medical treatment is defined as a second target point. Also,the identification unit 3 of this ninth embodiment identifies the firsttarget point information A1 with the registered point information Bstored in the storage unit 2. When the first target point information A1is made coincident with the registered point information B, thisidentification unit 3 notifies the acquired second target pointinformation A2 in connection with an identification result to thenotification unit 4, while this identification result informs that thefirst target point information A1 is made coincident with the registeredpoint information B. FIG. 36 shows the identifying operation executedbetween the acquired first target point information A1 and theregistered point information B stored in the storage unit 2.

[0207] As previously described, in accordance with the notificationapparatus and the notification method of this ninth embodiment, whentrouble and accident happen to occur at a registered point, in such acase that the owner of the notification apparatus faces to such a riskyopportunity that, for instance, the emergency vehicle is dispatched tothe own home and the own family, this owner can immediately go to thefamily since the owner can know such a destination as a hospital where amedical treatment of an injured person is carried out. Alternatively,while the acquisition unit 1 acquires three, or more target pointinformation A, the acquisition unit 1 may identify the first targetpoint information A1 with the registered point information B and maynotify the second target point information A2 and the subsequent targetpoint information, so that a plurality of destination places may benotified to the owner.

[0208] Also, the second target point information A2 may be realized bythe address information J, the telephone number information T, thepersonal ID information K, and also the positional information I. Insuch a case that the second target point information A2 corresponds tothe address information J, the telephone number information T, thepersonal ID information K, and also the positional information I, theconversion unit 7 explained in the fourth embodiment may be employed soas to convert this second target point information A2 into thepositional information I, and may represent this second target pointinformation A2 as dots on the map. Alternatively, this notificationapparatus may be provided with the map forming unit 10 which has beenexplained in the seventh embodiment. Also, the notification apparatusmay notify such registered point information B which is made coincidentwith the second target point information A2.

[0209] [Tenth Embodiment]

[0210]FIG. 37 is a structural block diagram for indicating anotification apparatus according to a tenth embodiment of the presentinvention. In this drawing, it should be noted that the same referencenumerals shown in FIG. 35 (namely, ninth embodiment) will be employed asthose for denoting the same, or similar portions, and explanationsthereof are omitted.

[0211] As indicated in FIG. 37, the notification apparatus according tothe tenth embodiment is arranged by further employing a present positioncalculating unit 8 and a route searching unit 9 in addition to thestructural elements owned by the notification apparatus according to theninth embodiment. This present position calculating unit 8 correspondsto a present position detecting means, and detects a present position.The route searching unit 9 corresponds to a route searching means, andsearches a route defined between two points. A storage unit 2 containstherein a map unit 23.

[0212] Also, an identification unit 3 identifies first target pointinformation A1 acquired by an acquisition unit 1 with registered pointinformation B stored in the storage unit 2 in response to a sort of thefirst target point A1 and a sort of the registered point information B,while a conversion unit 7 (not shown) is employed in a proper manner.When the first target point information A1 is made coincident with theregistered point information B, the identification unit 3 sends secondtarget point information A2 to the route searching unit 9. When theroute searching unit 9 receives the second target point information A2from the identification unit 3, this route searching unit 9 outputs adetection instruction “G” to the present position detecting unit 8. Whenthe present position detecting unit 8 receives the detection instructionG, the present position detecting unit 8 detects a present position toreturn present positional information “H” to the route searching unit 9.

[0213] While the route searching unit 9 sets the present positionalinformation H received from the present position detecting unit 8 as astarting point and also sets the second target point information A2received from the identification unit 3 as an end point, this routesearching unit 9 searches a route defined between two points, namelybetween the starting point and the endpoint by employing the map unit 23which stores therewith map information M in addition to especially atransportation network in which connections of roads and railroads areprepared. Then, this route searching unit 9 sends route information L tothe notification unit 4. The route information “L” corresponds suchinformation indicative of railroad names and station names, suchinformation representative of road names and crossing names, or suchinformation that searched routes are indicated on a map in a conspicuousmanner. The notification unit 4 notifies the route information Lreceived from the route searching unit 9 to the owner of thenotification apparatus.

[0214] As previously explained, in accordance with the notificationmethod and the notification method of this tenth embodiment, since theowner can know such a route defined from the present position up to thetarget point indicated by the second target point information A2, theowner can grasp such a route up to a destination, for example, ahospital so as to perform a medical treatment, and thus, the own canquickly go to the place where the medical treatment is carried out. Itshould also be noted that the searching unit 9 of this tenth embodimentsearches the route defined from the present position up to the targetpoint indicated by the second target point information A2.Alternatively, this route searching unit 9 may search such a routedefined from the present position up to a target point A1 indicated bythe first target point information A1.

[0215] [Eleventh Embodiment]

[0216]FIG. 38 is a structural block diagram for indicating anotification apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment of thepresent invention. In this drawing, it should be noted that the samereference numerals shown in FIG. 3 (namely, first embodiment) will beemployed as those for denoting the same, or similar portions, andexplanations thereof are omitted. As indicated in FIG. 38, similar tothe notification apparatus of the first embodiment, the notificationapparatus according to the eleventh embodiment is arranged by employingan acquisition unit 1, a storage unit 2, an identification unit 3, and anotification unit 4. It should also be noted that the storage unit 2 ofthis eleventh embodiment stores thereinto registered point information Band notification destination information C in a pain mode, which isdifferent from the storage unit 2 of the first embodiment. FIG. 39represents acquired target point information A, the registered pointinformation B stored in the storage unit 2, and the notificationdestination information C which constitutes the pair with the registeredpoint information B. In this eleventh embodiment, one record isconstituted by such two fields as the registered point information B andthe notification destination information C.

[0217] The identification unit 3 of this eleventh embodiment identifiesas to whether or not the target point information A acquired in theacquisition unit 1 is made coincident with either the registered pointinformation B or the notification destination information C, which arestored in the storage unit 2. As a result of this identifying operation,when these target point information A, and registered point informationB, or notification destination information C are made coincident witheach other, the identification unit 3 sends to the notification unit 4,both the registered point information B and the notification destinationinformation C which constitutes the pair with this registered pointinformation B. The notification unit 4 notifies such a fact that thetarget point information A is made coincident with the registered pointinformation B to such a notification destination indicated by thenotification destination information C.

[0218] The notification apparatus of this eleventh embodiment maybeprovided with a center, while this center totally manages dispatchdestinations, namely accident occurring points of emergency vehicleswithin a certain region. For instance, while one's house and offices offamilies are registered as the registered point information B into thestorage unit 2, and further, the own telephone number, the own portabletelephone number, and the like are registered as the notificationdestination information C into this storage unit 2, the notificationunit 4 executes notifying operation by using a telephone line. FIG. 40represents one example when this notifying operation is carried out. Inthis drawing, reference numeral 300 shows an emergency vehicle, andreference numeral 100 indicates a center equipped with the notificationapparatus. This center 100 totally manages, especially, dispatchdestinations as accident occurring points of the emergency vehicle 300.Also, reference numeral 400 represents a hand-carryable telephone suchas a portable telephone. It should be noted that as the center 100, afire department (fire station), and a police station may be employed.Alternatively, as this center 100, such a center may be employed whichtotally manages dispatch destinations of emergency vehicles belonging toa plurality of fire departments and a plurality of police stations.

[0219] As previously explained, in accordance with the notificationmethod and the notification method of this eleventh embodiment, evenwhen the notification apparatus is not owned, such a notification thatthe own home and the own family face to such a risky opportunity thatthe emergency vehicle is dispatched can be issued. Also, if thecommunication destinations as to all of the families and also thecommunication destinations of persons which are wanted to be contactedto the families are registered into the notification destinationinformation C, then notification can be made without any mistakes whentrouble/accident happen to occur.

[0220] It should also be noted that the notification apparatus maybeprovided with the conversion unit 7, the table conversion unit 22, andthe map unit 23, which have been explained in the above-describedembodiment. Also, while the conversion unit 7 is employed, thenotification apparatus may convert the sort of the target pointinformation A and the sort of the registered point information B so asto be identified with each other, and may absorb the error between thetarget point information A and the registered point information B.Alternatively, the identification unit 3 may identify as to whether ornot the target point information is location within a constant rangewhere the registered point information B is located at a center thereof.In a case that the target point information A is made coincident withall of the registered point information B, and when the target pointinformation A is located within a constant range, the identificationunit 3 may notify such a fact by way of different notification methods.Furthermore, the notification apparatus may be provided with the mapforming unit 10 explained in the above-described embodiment, theidentification unit 3 may notify such a fact based upon the map.

[0221] Also, while the acquisition unit 1 acquires both the first targetpoint information A1 as the accident occurring point to which theemergency vehicle is dispatched and the second target point informationA2 as the medical treatment point to which the emergency vehicle isdirected so as to perform the medical treatment, the identification unit3 identifies the first target point information A1 with the registeredpoint information B. As a result of this identifying operation, if thefirst target point information A1 is made coincident with the registeredpoint information B, the notification unit 4 may notify the secondtarget point information A2. Also, while the notification apparatus isprovided with both the present position detecting unit 8 and the routesearching unit 9, which have been explained in the above-describedembodiment, the notification unit 4 may notify the route information Ldefined from the present position of the notification destinationinformation C up to the second target point information A2.

[0222] Also, if a plurality of the registered point information B arearranged in the ascent order, or the descent order to be stored in thestorage unit 2, then the identifying operation may be quickly carriedout in the identification unit 3. In this alternative case, theidentification unit 3 does not accomplish the identifying operation in acase that one of the registered point information B is made coincidentwith the target point information A, but performs the identifyingoperation in the storage unit 2 after the registered point information Bhas been made coincident with the target point information A until thisregistered point information B is not made coincident therewith. As aresult, in such a case that one registered point information Bcorresponds to a plurality of notification destination information C,the correct identifying operation may be carried out. Also, since theplural registered point information B need not be identified until thefinal registered point information B, the identifying operation may bequickly ended.

[0223] Furthermore, FIG. 39 indicates such an example that oneregistered point information B corresponds to one notificationdestination information C. Alternatively, another arrangement may berealized in such a manner that a plurality of notification destinationinformation may correspond to one registered point information B, or aplurality of registered point information B may correspond to onenotification destination information C.

[0224] [Twelfth Embodiment]

[0225]FIG. 41 is a structural block diagram for indicating anotification apparatus according to a twelfth embodiment of the presentinvention. In this drawing, it should be noted that the same referencenumerals shown in FIG. 38 (namely, eleventh embodiment) will be employedas those for denoting the same, or similar portions, and explanationsthereof are omitted.

[0226] As indicated in FIG. 41, the notification apparatus according tothe twelfth embodiment is arranged by further employing a charging unit5 (charging means) in addition to the structural elements owned by thenotification apparatus according to the eleventh embodiment. A storageunit 2 stores thereinto registered point information B, notificationdestination information C, and charging destination information D in apair mode. FIG. 42 represents acquired target point information A, theregistered point information B stored in the storage unit 2, and thenotification destination information C, and also the chargingdestination information D stored in this storage unit 2. One record isconstituted by such three fields as the registered point information Band the notification destination information C, and also the chargingdestination information D.

[0227] The identification unit 3 of this twelfth embodiment identifiesas to whether or not the target point information A acquired in theacquisition unit 1 is made coincident with either the registered pointinformation B or the notification destination information C, which arestored in the storage unit 2. As a result of this identifying operation,when these target point information A and registered point informationB, or notification destination information C are made coincident witheach other, the identification unit 3 sends to the notification unit 4,both the registered point information B and the notification destinationinformation C which constitutes the pair with this registered pointinformation B, and also this identification unit 3 sends the chargingdestination information D which constitutes the above-describedinformation B and C to the charging unit 5. The charging unit 5 of thisembodiment charges a fee as to a charging destination which is indicatedby the charging destination information D sent from the charging unit 3.

[0228] As previously described, in accordance with the notificationapparatus and the notification method of this twelfth embodiment, sincethe charging unit can charge the fee only to such a charging destinationwhich is indicated by the charging destination information Dcorresponding to the registered point information B which is madecoincident with the target point information A, a service provider canprovide a service with a flexible fee system as anemergency-event-notifying-service fee system. It should be noted that inFIG. 42, both one notification point information C and one chargingdestination information D correspond to one registered point informationB. Alternatively, both a plurality of notification destinationinformation C and a plurality of charging destination information D maycorrespond to one registered point information B. Also, a plurality ofregistered point information B may correspond to both one notificationdestination information C and one charging destination information D.

[0229] [Thirteenth Embodiment]

[0230]FIG. 43 is a structural block diagram for indicating anotification apparatus according to a thirteenth embodiment of thepresent invention. In this drawing, it should be noted that the samereference numerals shown in FIG. 41 (namely, twelfth embodiment) will beemployed as those for denoting the same, or similar portions, andexplanations thereof are omitted.

[0231] As indicated in FIG. 43, the notification apparatus according tothe thirteenth embodiment is arranged by further employing aregistration unit 6 (registration means) in addition to the structuralelements owned by the notification apparatus according to the twelfthembodiment.

[0232] The registration unit 6 is employed so as to refer, add, ordelete registered point information B, notification destinationinformation C, or charging destination information D, which are storedin a storage unit 2, in response to a request issued from a user. In acase that either an adding request or a deleting request is issued, theregistration unit 6 supplies to the charging unit 5, such a chargingdestination information D formed by combining the registered pointinformation B, the notification destination information C, and thecharging destination information D, which are requested to be added, ordeleted. At this time, the charging unit 5 charges a fee to a chargingdestination indicated by the received charging destination informationD.

[0233] As previously explained, in accordance with the notificationapparatus of this thirteenth embodiment, the combination among theregistered point information B, the notification destination informationC, and the charging destination information D, which are used in thecharging operation, can be changed at any time by employing theregistration unit 6. As a consequence, the notification apparatus can beused under better user friendly condition. Also, in a case that eitherthe adding request or the deleting request is issued from theregistration unit 6 as to the registered point information B, thenotification destination information C, and the charging destinationinformation D, the charging unit 5 can charge the fee to the chargingdestination indicated by the charging destination information D which isformed by combining the registered point information B, the notificationdestination information C, and the charging destination information D,which are requested to be added, or deleted. As a result, thenotification apparatus can provide services of various charging systems.

[0234] [Fourteenth Embodiment]

[0235] A notification apparatus according to a fourteenth embodiment ofthe present invention is arranged in a similar structure to that of thenotification apparatus of the first embodiment. A storage unit 2 of thisfourteenth embodiment stores thereinto identification degree information“E” (will be explained later) corresponding to registered pointinformation B in addition to the registered point information B. FIG. 44indicates acquired target point information A, and both the registeredpoint information B and the identification degree information E, whichare stored in the storage unit 2. In this case, one record isconstituted by such two fields as the registered point information B andthe identification degree information E. The identification degreeinformation E indicates that any one of the target point information Aand the registered point information B is made valid while anidentifying operation is carried out by the identification unit 3,namely indicates this result as ON, or OFF.

[0236] When the registered point information B is identified with thetarget point information A, the identification unit 3 of this 14thembodiment changes an identification range between the target pointinformation A and the registered point information B based upon theidentification degree information E. Also, the notification unit 4 ofthis embodiment changes a notification method based upon theidentification degree information E.

[0237] Referring now to FIG. 45, a description will be made of arepresentation method of the identification degree information E and thenotification method of this fourteenth embodiment. A concrete exampleshown in FIG. 45 is such an example that an identifying operation iscarried out based upon address information J.

[0238] In this drawing, both the target point information A and theregistered point information B, which are used during the identifyingoperation, are represented by 25 digits, respectively. That is, digitnumbers 1 to 2 show “prefectures”; digit numbers 3 to 5 represent“shi/ku/cho/son (city/ward/town/village)”; digit numbers 6 to 8 denote“oaza (section of city/ward/town/village)”; digit numbers 9 to 10indicate “chome (subsection)”; digit numbers 11 to 15 show “banchi(block number)”; digit numbers 16 to 20 indicate “go (house number)”;and also digit numbers 21 to 25 represent “room number”. For example,such digits of “1410908399001000010100102” shown in FIG. 45a) indicate“room number 102, 100-banchi 101-go, Tsunashima-nishi 99-chome,kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa”.

[0239] Similarly, the identification degree information E is constructedof 25 digits. Among these 25 digits of both the target point informationA and the registered point information B which are used in anidentifying operation, a digit for making the identifying operationvalid is expressed by “1”, and a digit for making the identifyingoperation invalid is represented by “0”. For example, among digits of“1111111111111110000000000” shown in FIG. 45b), since digit numbers 1 to15 are “1” and digit numbers 16 to 25 are “0”, items which become validin an identifying operation correspond to “prefectures”,“shi/ku/cho/son”, “oaza”, “chome”, and “banchi”.

[0240] When the identification unit 3 identifies the target pointinformation A acquired from the acquisition unit 1 with the registeredpoint information B stored in the storage unit 2, the identificationunit 3 identifies these target/registered point information A/B onlywhen the identification degree information E is digits of “1”. Whenthese target/registered point information A and B made coincident witheach other, the identification unit 3 sends such an identificationdegree information E corresponding to the coincident registered pointinformation B to the notification unit 4. The notification unit 4changes the notification method based upon the received identificationdegree information E, and then notifies this changed notificationmethod. For instance, in such a case that the received identificationdegree information E is constituted by “1”, the notification unit 4displays “! emergency event happens to occur!”, whereas in such a casethat the received identification degree information E is not constitutedby “1”, the notification unit 4 shows “emergency vehicle is beingdispatched”, which may represent differences.

[0241] As previously explained in accordance with the notificationapparatus and the notification method of this fourteenth embodiment, theidentification unit can determine that which portions of both the targetpoint information A and the registered point information B are madevalid based upon the identification degree information E, which areutilized in the identifying operation. As a consequence, theidentification unit can perform the identifying operations under pluralconditions in response to individual requests sent from the users of thenotification apparatus, and thus can perform the identifying operationsin more flexible manners. It should also be noted that as explained inthe above-described embodiment, the notification unit may also notifythe coincident registered point information B, and may display theregistered point information B on the map by dots. Also, the storageunit 2 stores thereinto both the notification destination information Cand the charging destination information D in correspondence with theregistered point information B other than both the registered pointinformation B and the identification degree information E. Furthermore,as represented in a sixteenth embodiment, the registration unit 6capable of registering therein the identification degree information Ein addition to the registered point information B, the notificationdegree information C, and the charging destination information D may beprovided.

[0242] In the above-described embodiments (first to fourteenthembodiments), such a description has been made that the target pointindicated by the target point information A is such a target point towhich the emergency vehicle is dispatched. Alternatively, the presentinvention is not limited to the emergency vehicle, but may be applied toautomobiles such as general-purpose automobiles and taxis, which do notrequire emergency uses, and also may be applied to trains.

[0243] Industrial Applicability

[0244] As previously explained, in accordance with the notificationapparatus, the notification method, and the storage medium of thepresent invention, while the storage means has previously storedthereinto the registered point information capable of specifying thedesirable point, in the acquisition means (acquisition step), the targetpoint information is acquired which is capable of specifying the targetpoint to which the vehicle is directed. In this identification means(identification step), the acquired target point information isidentified with the registered point information stored in the storagemeans so as to judge as to whether or not this target point informationis made coincident with the registered point information. In thenotification means (notification step), the identification resultobtained from the identification means (identification step) isnotified.

[0245] For instance, when a user home and locations offamilies/acquaintances are registered in the registered pointinformation, in such a case that a vehicle such as an ambulance car anda fire engine is dispatched to an accident occurring point, and thistarget point is made coincident with a registered point which has beenpreviously registered by the user, since this fact may be notified tothe user (owner of notification apparatus), the user can quickly knowthat the emergency event happens to occur at the locations of thefamilies and acquaintances.

1. A notification apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit for acquiring target point information capable of specifying a target point to which a vehicle is directed; a storage unit for previously storing thereinto registered point information capable of specifying a desirable point; an identification unit for identifying said target point information acquired by said acquisition unit with said registered point information stored in the storage unit to judge as to whether or not said target point information is made coincident with said registered point information; and a notification unit for notifying an identification result obtained by said identification unit.
 2. The notification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said notification unit notifies the identification result when said target point information is made coincident with said registered point information.
 3. The notification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said notification unit notifies the registered point information which is made coincident with said target point information in connection with the identification result.
 4. The notification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a charging unit for charging a fee to a predetermined charging destination when said target point information is made coincident with said registered point information.
 5. The notification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a conversion unit for converting either a sort of said target point information or a sort of said registered point information when sorts of the target point information and of the registered point information, which are identified with each other by said identification unit, are different from each other.
 6. The notification apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein, when at least one of said target point information and said registered point information corresponds to positional information indicative of a predetermined point, said conversion unit converts said positional information into address information by employing a correspondence relationship between the positional information indicative of the predetermined point and address information indicative of an address of said predetermined point.
 7. The notification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said identification unit judges as to whether or not a target point indicated by the target point information which is acquired by said acquisition unit is located within a predetermined range where a registered point is located at a center thereof and said registered point is indicated by the registered point information which is stored in said storage unit.
 8. The notification apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said notification unit performs notifying operations indifferent notification systems between when said target point information is made coincident with said registered point information and when said target point is located within said predetermined range of the registered point.
 9. The notification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said identification unit produces a map forming instruction containing at least one of positional information and address information based upon a result of identifying the target point information acquired by said acquisition unit with the registered point information stored in said storage unit, wherein said storage unit includes a map information storage unit for storing thereinto map information used to display a map, wherein said notification apparatus further comprises a map forming unit for deriving from said map information storage unit, map information of an area containing all of positions which are indicated by either the positional information or the address information, which are contained in the map forming instruction produced by said identification unit, and for forming such a map information that the positions indicated by either said positional information or said address information are represented as signs, wherein said notification unit displays the map information which is formed by said map forming unit.
 10. The notification apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said identification unit produces the map forming instruction, while registered point information which is made coincident with said target point information is used as the positional information, wherein, in case that there is no registered point information which is made coincident with said target point information, said identification unit produces the map forming instruction while both said target point information and the registered point information registered in said storage unit are used as the positional information.
 11. The notification apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein, if address information contained in the map forming instruction produced by said identification unit is coarser than address information contained in said map information, said map forming unit derives map information of such address information which is partially made coincident with the address information of said map forming instruction.
 12. The notification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said acquisition unit acquires second target point information capable of specifying a second target point subsequent to the target point information capable of specifying the target point to which the vehicle is directed, wherein said notification unit notifies said second target point information when said target point information is made coincident with the registered point information stored in said storage unit as a result of the identifying operation by said identification unit.
 13. The notification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a present position detecting unit for detecting a present position of said notification apparatus; and a route searching unit for searching a route defined from said present position detected by said present position detecting unit up to either said target point or said second target point, wherein said notification unit notifies the route searched by said route searching unit.
 14. The notification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said storage unit stores thereinto notification destination information indicative of a notification destination to which said notification unit notifies the identification result in correspondence with said registered point information, wherein said notification unit notifies the identification result to the notification destination which is indicated by said notification destination information, which corresponds to either the registered point information which is made coincident with said target point information by said identification unit or the registered point information in which a target point indicated by said target point information is located in a predetermined range including the registered point at a center thereof.
 15. The notification apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said storage unit stores thereinto charging destination information indicative of a charging destination to which said charging unit charges the fee in correspondence with said registered point information, wherein said charging unit charges the fee to the charging destination which is indicated by said charging destination information, which corresponds to either the registered point information which is made coincident with said target point information by said identification unit or the registered point information in which a target point indicated by said target point information is located in a predetermined range including the registered point at a center thereof.
 16. The notification apparatus as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: a registration unit for referring said registered point information, said notification destination information, or said charging destination information; for deleting said registered point information, said notification destination information, or said charging destination information from said recording unit; and for adding said registered point information, said notification destination information, or said charging destination information to said recording unit.
 17. The notification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said storage unit stores thereinto identification degree information which determines a range of an identifying operation when said target point information is identified with said registered point information, wherein said identification unit identifies said target point information with said registered point information based upon said identification degree information, wherein said notification unit notifies the identification result in different notification systems in response to said identification degree information.
 18. A notification method using a notification apparatus equipped with a storage unit for previously storing thereinto registered point information capable of specifying a desirable point, comprising: an acquisition step for acquiring target point information capable of specifying a target point to which a vehicle is directed; an identification step for identifying said target point information acquired by said acquisition step with said registered point information stored in the storage unit to judge as to whether or not said target point information is made coincident with said registered point information; and a notification step for notifying an identification result obtained by said identification step.
 19. The notification method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said notification step notifies the identification result when said target point information is made coincident with said registered point information.
 20. The notification method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said notification step notifies the registered point information which is made coincident with said target point information in connection with the identification result.
 21. The notification method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said notification method is comprised of a charging step for charging a fee to a predetermined charging destination when said target point information is made coincident with said registered point information.
 22. The notification method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising: a conversion step for converting either a sort of said target point information or a sort of said registered point information when sorts of the target point information and of the registered point information, which are identified with each other by said identification step, are different from each other.
 23. The notification method as claimed in claim 22, wherein, when at least one of said target point information and said registered point information corresponds to positional information indicative of a predetermined point, said conversion step converts said positional information into address information by employing a correspondence relationship between the positional information indicative of the predetermined point and address information indicative of an address of said predetermined point.
 24. The notification method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said identification step judges as to whether or not a target point indicated by the target point information which is acquired by said acquisition step is located within a predetermined range where a registered point is located at a center thereof and said registered point is indicated by the registered point information which is stored in said storage unit.
 25. The notification method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said notification step performs notifying operations in different notification systems between when said target point information is made coincident with said registered point information and when said target point is located within said predetermined range of the registered point.
 26. The notification method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said storage unit includes a map information storage unit for storing map information used to display a map, wherein said identification step includes a map forming instruction producing step which produces a map forming instruction containing at least one of positional information and address information based upon a result of identifying the target point information acquired by said acquisition step with the registered point information stored in said storage unit, wherein said notification method further comprises a map forming step for deriving from said map information storage unit, map information of an area containing all of positions which are indicated by either the positional information or the address information, which are contained in the map forming instruction produced by said map forming instruction producing step, and for forming such a map information that the positions indicated by either said positional information or said address information are represented as signs, wherein said notification step displays the map information which is formed by said map forming step.
 27. The notification method as claimed in claim 26, wherein said map forming instruction producing step produces the map forming instruction, while registered point information which is made coincident with said target point information is used as the positional information, wherein, in a case that there is no registered point information which is made coincident with said target point information, said map forming instruction producing step produces the map forming instruction while both said target point information and the registered point information registered in said storage unit are used as the positional information.
 28. The notification method as claimed in claim 26, wherein, if address information contained in the map forming instruction produced by said map forming instruction producing step is coarser than address information contained in said map information, said map forming step derives map information of such address information which is partially made coincident with the address information of said map forming instruction.
 29. The notification method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising: a second acquisition step for acquiring second target point information capable of specifying a second target point, subsequent to said acquisition step, wherein said notification step notifies said second target point information when said target point information is made coincident with the registered point information stored in said storage unit as a result of the identifying operation by said identification step.
 30. The notification method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising: a present position detecting step for detecting a present position of said notification apparatus; and a route searching step for searching a route defined from said present position detected by said present position detecting step up to either said target point or said second target point, wherein said notification step notifies the route searched by said route searching step.
 31. The notification method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said storage unit stores thereinto notification destination information indicative of a notification destination to which said notification step notifies the identification result in correspondence with said registered point information, wherein said notification step notifies the identification result to the notification destination which is indicated by said notification destination information, which corresponds to either the registered point information which is made coincident with said target point information by said identification step or the registered point information in which a target point indicated by said target point information is located in a predetermined range including the registered point at a center thereof.
 32. The notification method as claimed in claim 21, wherein said storage unit stores thereinto charging destination information indicative of a charging destination to which said charging step charges a fee in correspondence with said registered point information, wherein said charging step charges the fee to the charging destination which is indicated by said charging destination information, which corresponds to either the registered point information which is made coincident with said target point information by said identification step or the registered point information in which a target point indicated by said target point information is located in a predetermined range including the registered point at a center thereof.
 33. The notification method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said storage unit stores there into identification degree information which determines a range of an identifying operation when said target point information is identified with said registered point information, wherein said identification step identifies said target point information with said registered point information based upon said identification degree information, wherein said notification step notifies the identification result in different notification systems in response to said identification degree information.
 34. A computer readable recording medium wherein a program for causing a computer to execute the notification method recited in claim 18 is recorded. 